The Cavite State University – Carmona Campus successfully held the 1st RE-IGNITE: Research and Extension Symposium on January 12, 2023, at the Audio-Visual Room of the campus. This one-day event, spearheaded by the CvSU-Carmona Research and Development Office, aimed to foster a deeper culture of research and extension among faculty and students, under the overarching theme of sustaining research and extension (R&E) efforts for continuous community transformation and support.

This symposium was a concerted effort to engage academic stakeholders in enhancing their involvement in research and extension initiatives. Its primary objectives included empowering participants to actively conduct R&E activities, providing a venue to present and evaluate current and completed projects, ensuring alignment with the university’s R&E roadmap and agenda, and encouraging more proactive engagement in future research and extension pursuits. The symposium catered to participants from various academic programs, including BS Business Management, BS Computer Science, BS Computer Engineering, BS Hospitality Management, BS Information Technology, BS Industrial Technology, and Bachelor in Secondary Education.

Prior to the event, announcements were made through official social media platforms and group communication channels, ensuring wide dissemination among the faculty and student body. The mode of the symposium was predominantly through slide presentations, enabling participants to effectively communicate their research and extension outputs. Attendance and evaluation were structured such that certificates were issued upon the submission of feedback forms, helping to ensure participant reflection on the activity’s effectiveness.

The event was attended by a total of 182 individuals, comprising 85 males and 97 females, with no participants identifying as non-disclosed. The majority were students (117 participants), while government employees made up 63 of the attendees, and 2 belonged to the "Others" category. There were no attendees categorized as farmers, fisherfolk, private employees, or from the 4Ps and solo parent sectors.

Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. In terms of relevance, quality, and timeliness, the symposium received the highest rating from nearly all respondents. Specifically, all 182 participants rated the training as "5" in relevance and quality. In terms of timeliness, 179 gave the highest rating of "5," while 3 participants gave a rating of "4," still reflecting a very high level of satisfaction across all metrics.

From a logistical standpoint, the event was efficiently managed with zero cost reported from both the campus unit and any partner agencies, signifying effective resource utilization and partnership-driven planning. Notably, the organizers reported no problems encountered during the event, indicating smooth execution and coordination.

The symposium featured several notable presentations. Mr. Antonino Jose L. Bayson served as the moderator and delivered the opening spiel, setting an engaging tone for the activity. Ms. Janine B. Bacosmo, Campus Extension Coordinator, offered welcoming remarks that reinforced the importance of research and extension work in community development. Various faculty members presented their completed or ongoing projects. Highlights included Prof. Richard L. Hernandez’s "Project Kompyuter," Prof. Maria Andrea C. Francia’s "Barangay Entreprenyur," Prof. Ron Erik C. Frontuna’s "Basura Ko, Ayos Ko," and Prof. Jonell V. Ocampos’ "Kakayahang Teknikal Tungo sa Magandang Kinabukasan."

Moreover, several new extension projects were introduced. Dr. Gretchen Macaranas presented "Project KPKNan," Mr. Jhumel C. Ignas discussed the "TO-SERVE Project," and Mr. Ronlie RJ A. Espeleta introduced "Project DAPAT." In addition, Ms. Bacosmo also shared insights into the "CvSUCCESS" extension program, while Dr. Cristina M. Signo highlighted strategic and operational plans under the CvSU SHINE initiative.

The successful conduct of the 1st RE-IGNITE Symposium not only reaffirmed the university’s commitment to fostering a strong research and extension culture but also provided an inspiring and strategic platform for dialogue, collaboration, and growth among its stakeholders. It is evident from the evaluation results and active engagement of presenters that the event met its objectives and left a lasting impact on its participants.