GABAY

VISION, MISSION AND OBJECTIVES OF THE 

UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION OFFICE

VISION

The University Research and Innovation Office (URIO) is a leading hub of innovation and research excellence, fostering a dynamic research culture that empowers communities and enhances the quality of life, and is committed to interdisciplinary collaboration, cutting-edge research, and the integration of sustainable practices that align with global trends and societal needs. . 

MISSION

The University Research and Innovation Office (URIO)  is dedicated to cultivating a vibrant research culture that drives the generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge that aims to empower researchers and scholars to address pressing societal challenges through innovative solutions and collaborative partnerships

OBJECTIVES

1. Enhance a positive research climate through ongoing capacity building and tailored training programs that empower faculty and students.

2. Engage in relevant disciplinary and interdisciplinary research initiatives that contribute to the welfare and development of communities.

3. Build functional partnerships and collaborations with local and international institutions to advance research priorities, share resources, and enhance research capabilities.

4. Provide platforms for the dissemination of research findings from faculty and students through local and international presentations and publications, reaching potential users effectively.

5. Promote the utilization of research outcomes among stakeholders to ensure that findings translate into practical benefits for society.

6. Improve the quality of education and foster community engagement to facilitate the holistic transformation of individuals and society.

7. Encourage the development of creative works and innovations by providing resources and guidance for patenting and protecting intellectual property, ensuring that research contributions are recognized and utilized effectively.

1. Disaster Resiliency, Environment, and Climate Change

This research area focuses on enhancing community resilience to natural disasters and climate change through sustainable practices and adaptive strategies.

2. Entrepreneurial Spirit

This agenda promotes the development of entrepreneurship by investigating factors that foster innovation and to create programs and support systems that empower individuals to start and grow businesses, fostering economic development and job creation.

3. Emerging Technology, Innovation, and Artificial Intelligence

This area examines the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, on various sectors such as education, healthcare, and industry. This focuses on the integration of these technologies into everyday practices, ethical considerations, and the development of new applications that enhance efficiency and productivity. 

4. Local Knowledge

Research in this area emphasizes the value of indigenous and local knowledge systems in addressing contemporary issues. It explores how traditional practices, cultural heritage, and community insights can inform sustainable development and decision-making. 

5. Disciplinal and Multi-Disciplinal Studies

This research agenda encourages collaboration across various academic disciplines to tackle complex societal challenges. By fostering interdisciplinary approaches, the university aims to produce comprehensive insights and innovative solutions that draw on diverse perspectives. This area promotes research projects that address issues from multiple angles, enriching the academic discourse and practical applications.

6. Institutional Studies

This area focuses on assessing the institution’s needs for accreditation, global rankings, and service quality to enhance educational outcomes and stakeholder satisfaction.

Aware of the fast developments in the different realms of education and development, this Research Agenda can be amended upon consultation with the Research Council that spearheads the promotion of research in the entire University.

"Saliksik na May Sigla at Silbi sa Lipunan" 

Pillar 1: SALIKSIK (Research Excellence, Grants & High-Impact Output)

Focus: Driving high-level research productivity, global indexing, and aggressive external funding acquisition.

Strategic Thrust 1: High-Impact Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) Publications

• Objective: Elevate institutional academic prestige and global rankings through target-driven, high-quality journal indexing.

• Key Initiatives:

  • Tiered Publication Incentive System: Provide financial incentives structured around journal rankings (e.g., higher tiers for Q1/Q2 Scopus and WoS publications).

  • Internal Peer Review Board: Establish an in-house panel to review manuscripts for methodological soundness and academic rigor prior to journal submission.

  • Article Processing Charge (APC) Support: Set up a institutional fund to support faculty publishing in reputable open-access Scopus journals.

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Total number of Scopus/WoS-indexed articles published during SY 2026–2027.

  • Ratio of Q1 and Q2 publications relative to overall institutional output.

Strategic Thrust 2: Strategic National and International Grant Mobilization

• Objective: Diversify and expand the university’s research revenue by securing competitive external grants.

• Key Initiatives:

  • Grant Proposal Incubator: Establish a dedicated URIO proposal desk to assist faculty with packaging applications for national funding bodies (e.g., DOST, CHED, DA-BAR).

  • International Co-Funding & Consortium Building: Partner with global institutions to target joint bilateral calls (e.g., Horizon Europe, USAID, Newton Fund, JSPS).

  • External Grant Matching Support: Offer administrative relief and matching funds for projects securing major external grants.

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Total monetary value of external research grants secured (national and international).

  • Number of active multi-institutional/international research grants.

Pillar 2: SIGLA (Vitality, Capacity & Integrity)

Focus: Revitalizing the research culture among faculty, building capacity, and maintaining uncompromising ethical standards.

Strategic Thrust 3: Faculty Research Engagement and Capacity Building

• Objective: Increase active faculty participation in research while removing structural bottlenecks to productivity.

• Key Initiatives:

  • Research Mentorship Program: Pair early-career researchers with senior, published faculty for joint publications and proposal writing.

  • Workload & Incentive Realignment: Institutionalize clear research deloading policies and recognize productivity in faculty performance evaluations.

  • Manuscript & Proposal Bootcamps: Host semesterly, outcome-driven writing retreats to deliver submission-ready outputs.

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Percentage increase in full-time faculty actively leading or co-authoring research projects.

  • Number of faculty capacity-building workshops conducted per academic year.

Strategic Thrust 4: Research Integrity, Ethics, and Responsible AI Governance

• Objective: Institutionalize ethical compliance, data privacy, and responsible technology integration across all research workflows.

• Key Initiatives:

  • Mandatory Research Ethics Certification: Require all faculty and graduate researchers to complete ethics and plagiarism modules prior to proposal approval.

  • Institutional Responsible AI Policy: Draft and implement clear guidelines on acceptable AI usage in data gathering, analysis, and manuscript drafting.

  • Streamlined Ethics Review Committee (ERC): Standardize SOPs for the ERC to optimize turnaround times without compromising ethical oversight.

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • 100% compliance rate for ethical clearances on participant-involved research.

  • Establishment and roll-out of the official Institutional Policy on Responsible AI in Research.

Pillar 3: SILBI (Service, Utility & Impact)

Focus: Translating research into community solutions, government policy, commercial products, and global sustainability objectives.

Strategic Thrust 5: Research Translation, Utilization, and Commercialization

• Objective: Move research outputs from passive publications into active public, policy, and commercial applications.

• Key Initiatives:

  • Translational Research Seed Funding: Grant internal funding specifically to convert completed basic research into working prototypes, policy briefs, or extension modules.

  • Policy & Tech-Transfer Clinics: Connect university researchers with LGUs, industry leaders, and IP experts to address real-world community issues.

  • Annual Innovation & Impact Expo: Host a pitch showcase matching viable university IP with potential industry partners and investors.

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Number of policy briefs officially adopted by local or national government agencies.

  • Number of IP disclosures, patent applications filed, or technology transfer agreements executed.

Strategic Thrust 6: Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-Embedded Research

• Objective: Direct institutional research toward addressing urgent local, national, and global sustainability challenges.

• Key Initiatives:

  • SDG Mapping & Proposal Tagging: Require all internal and external research proposals to explicitly identify their primary and secondary SDG targets.

  • Interdisciplinary SDG Challenge Grants: Launch internal seed grants for multidisciplinary teams tackling local climate, health, economic, or social equity issues.

  • Sustainability Impact Report: Publish an annual dashboard showcasing university research contributions to the UN SDGs for global metrics (e.g., THE Impact Rankings).

• Core Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Percentage of funded research projects explicitly aligned with UN SDGs.

  • Number of active interdisciplinary research projects focused on sustainability.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION

MSME Development

Market Research

Trade Development

Research and Development Competitiveness with LGU and Academe

Feasibility Studies

Innovative Practices for Sustainable business

SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Improvement of Tourism Infrastructure and Accessibility

Cohesive and Comprehensive Digitalization and Connectivity

Enhancement of Overall Tourist Experience

Equalization of Tourism Development and Promotion

Diversification of Portfolio through Multidimensional Tourism

Maximization of Domestic and International Tourism

Strengthening Tourism Governance through Collaboration with National and Local Stakeholders

Local Histories

Conservation of Built Heritage

The Creative Economy and Industries

Culinary Tourism

ACCOUNTING LANDSCAPE AND ANALYTICS

Promote Financial Inclusion and Improve Public Financial Management

Financial Performance Measurements and Management

RESPONSIBLE MANAGEMENT EDUCATION

Accounting and Management Accounting Education

Hospitality and Tourism Education

Business Education

RESEARCH AGENDA OF SABH PROGRAMS

CONSTRUCTION

Greener, Sustainable and Innovative Construction Technologies

Fiber Reinforced Concrete

Innovative Road and Bridge Design 

Sustainable Architecture

Cultural Heritage Infrastructure Preservation 

Multi-hazard Resilient Construction Techniques

GEOSCIENCE

GIS Applications

Remote Sensing 

Land-use and Land-cover Assessment

Land Suitability Analysis

ENERGY

Smart Energy Efficient System

Renewable Energy

Energy Efficient Devices

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES

Intelligent Transport Systems

Smart Agriculture Technologies

Electronic Systems Applications

ICT-enabled Medical d

Devices and Services

Educational Application Systems

Food Processing Equipment

Disaster Risk Reduction Technologies

Environmental Protection Systems

Robotics and Intelligent Controls

COMPUTER SCIENCE

Data Analytics

Artificial Intelligence

Natural Language Processing

Sentiment Analysis

Human Computer Interaction Systems

Mobile Application

RESEARCH AGENDA OF SACE PROGRAMS

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Outcomes-Based Education

Educational Psychology

Curriculum and Instruction

Alternative Delivery Systems

Internationalization of Education

Educational Leadership and Management

Action Research in Education

Basic and Higher Education

Special and Inclusive Education

ICT Integration in Instruction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCES

Politics and Governance

Rural and Urban Sustainable Development

Human Rights and Social Justice

Environmental Studies

Poverty Index and Alleviation

Law-Related Studies

International Policy

PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL STUDIES

Mental Health and Wellness

Gender and Development

Social Psychology

Guidance and Counseling

Personality Development

Filipino Psychology

Human Behavior

Developmental Psychology

Industrial Psychology

CRIMINOLOGY AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Criminal Justice System

Justice and Human Rights

Law Enforcement Administration

Forensic Science

Police-Community Partnership and Development 

Correctional Administration

Public Safety Services

Crime Prevention

Juvenile Delinquency

Drug Abuse

RESEARCH AGENDA FOR SECAP PROGRAMS

FOOD AND NUTRITION

Perinatal nutrition

Under nutrition and obesity in children under 5 years

Anemia and Gestational Diabetes in Women

Nutrition of Persons with Disabilities

Fad diets

Malnutrition related to infectious diseases

Food safety and hygiene

Early detection, prevention and interventions for malnutrition

Functional foods and nutraceuticals

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH

Improving maternal and infant mortality rate

National Immunization Program

Reproductive Health

MENTAL HEALTH

Evaluation of various existing mental health interventions in the country

Guidelines for community-based MH services. 

Interventions or services for special populations (i.e. elderly, children, women, vulnerable groups etc.)

HEALTH TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Evaluation of current and emerging health technologies

Telehealth

Innovative clinical products from plants, animals and other biological sources (pre-clinical studies, testing on multiple microbial strains, molecular effects)

Drug manufacturing and commercialization

Cosmeceuticals (herbal cosmetic products like face masks, serums, sunscreens, lotions; herbal soaps; herbal insect repellants)

EMERGING AND RE-EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Prevention, diagnosis and management of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases 

Epidemiological researches of arbovirus infections

Disease characterization and investigation of public health and clinical implications

Local burden of disease and factors influencing disease spread.

Early detection, intervention and prevention of transmission of infectious diseases.

Epigenetics and biomarker studies of non-communicable diseases

Bio-banking of clinical samples for research

Biological risk and safety

Pre-clinical studies on therapeutic agents and modalities against emerging and re-emerging diseases 

Targeted drug delivery systems for therapeutic agents against emerging and re-emerging diseases

Bioinformatics protocols for virology studies, and vaccine design and evaluation

CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Improvement of quality of life of people with NCDs (equity in health, access to healthcare, behavioral and sociocultural studies, preventive interventions and patient support)

Preventive interventions of CVD, diabetes, cancer or COPD

Validation of biomarkers in detection platforms for cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases 

Test kits for early detection of risks in NCDs

Remote diagnostics for priority non-communicable diseases.

Pre-clinical studies on therapeutic agents and modalities against NCDsTargeted drug delivery systems for therapeutic agents against NCDs

HEALTH SYSTEM MAINTENANCE (towards UHC Implementation)

Health financing- risk reduction

Access to medicine and technology

Human resources for health

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION

Characterization of diseases whose incidence is directly affected by climate change.

DRRM capacity of community and health system

Biomedical devices that can easily be used during pandemics

Innovative personal protective equipment (PPEs) for health emergency workers/ responders

RESEARCH AGENDA OF SHAS PROGRAMS

ENHANCING EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES

Curriculum Development

Instructional Strategies

Student Learning

INNOVATIVE TEACHING AND LEARNING

Teacher training

Educational Innovation

Workforce Readiness

ADDRESSING EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGES

Equity in Education

Access to Quality Education

Inclusive Education

COLLABORATION IN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH

Interdisciplinary Research

Community Partnerships

Policy development

         The graduate school research agenda aims to provide a strategic framework for USLT graduate students in identifying potential research topics that align with their field of specialization. Additionally, it seeks to generate timely, community-responsive, innovative, and globally aligned research that will enhance the lives of individuals and communities.

Research Themes and Priority Areas

HUMAN, SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND QUALITY OF LIFE 

(Aligned with PDP pillars, SDG 1, 2, 3, 4)

Digital and inclusive education

Teacher quality, competencies, and lifelong learning

Service delivery in health facilities

Mental health and psychosocial support

Social welfare and poverty alleviation impact assessments

Youth development and employability

Issues on OFWs, reintegration, and migration

ECONOMIC GROWTH, INDUSTRY INNOVATION & COMPETITIVENESS

(Aligned with PDP industrialization goals, NRDA IEET)

 Digital entrepreneurship and e-commerce

Supply chain resilience

Business analytics and financial technologies

Strategic management and corporate governance

Job creation and local economic development

Market integration and export competitiveness

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION & DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

(Aligned with NRDA STI Agenda, SDG 9)

AI in governance, health, and education

Smart campus and smart city technologies

Digital ethics and responsible innovation

ICT capacity-building

Cybersecurity frameworks for LGUs and schools

Automation in manufacturing

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE ACTION & DISASTER RESILIENCE

(Aligned with PDP climate goals, SDG 11, 13, 14, 15)

 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation

Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM)

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity

 Sustainable Resource & Coastal Management

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES, URBAN DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE

(Aligned with SDG 11)

 Traffic systems optimization

Sustainable transport solutions

Affordable and resilient housing models

Local infrastructure modernization

Urban safety, crime prevention, and surveillance systems

CROSS-CUTTING PRIORITIES

(applicable across all programs)

 Gender and development (GAD)

Inclusive education and disability studies

Digital transformation

Ethics and good governance

Peace and resilience frameworks

Data-driven policymaking

 Community engagement & participatory action research