UPOU FMDS RPC holds Research Forum 2020

The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) Research and Publication Committee (RPC) held its first online Research Forum live-streamed via the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Networks on 22 October 2020, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

The Research Forum featured selected studies of students from the different programs of UPOU FMDS. The studies cover a wide range of topics from student mobility in the ASEAN region, nursing work environment, public green spaces, health promotion, and status of research in higher education institutions (HEIs).

Dr. Primo Garcia, Dean of FMDS, opened the research forum with his welcome remarks highlighting the commitment of FMDS in harnessing the expertise of its faculty, staff, and students to address the challenges of development at the institutional, community, and social levels.

Research Forum moderators, Dr. Maripres Sarinas (FMDS Secretary to the Faculty) and Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes (Master of Arts in Nursing Faculty) introduced the panel of reactors who will give their feedback on each of the presentations. The panel of reactors is comprised of Dr. Marie Grace A. Gomez, Professor 1 at the College of Education, UP Diliman, Dr. Laili Rahayuwati, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Indonesia, and Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Associate Professor at UPOU FMDS, and Director of UPOU Office of Public Affairs and UPOU Office of Gender Concerns.

The first study entitled “Status, Prospects, and Challenges of International Mobility of Students in ASEAN: The Philippine Experience” was presented by Dr. Medardo Bombita, an Associate Professor V at the University of Rizal System, and a graduating student of the Master of ASEAN Studies program. Dr. Bombita discussed the situation and the factors affecting the Philippines’ compliance with student mobility policy and the possible ways of improving student mobility in the country.

This was followed by the presentation of Mr. Wilfred Javier, a US Registered Nurse representing the Master of Arts in Nursing program, with his thesis entitled “Work Environment and Workload of Staff Nurses in Level-2 Hospitals at Cavite, Philippines.” Mr. Javier’s study aimed to know the level of perceived work environment and level of workload of staff nurses and its relationship to their socio-demographic profiles, and the significant relationship between the level of perceived work environment and level of workload by staff nurses.

Ms. Margaret Tadeja, an environmental consultant from the Master of Environment and Natural Resources program followed with her presentation entitled “Addressing the Lack of Green Spaces in Metro Manila through Establishment of Public School Gardens.” Ms. Tadeja’s study focused on the most common or rare garden types in Metro Manila public schools, plant profile of public school gardens, and the possibility of other public schools duplicating the determined good practices in gardening.

The fourth presentation entitled “Tsikiting Stories: Children’s Storytelling as Health Promotion during COVID-19 Pandemic” was presented by Prof. Raphael M. Ferrer, an Assistant Professor at the College of Human Ecology (CHE) UP Los Banos and affiliate faculty of the Diploma in/Master of Social Work program of UPOU. He was joined by his colleague at UPLB-CHE, Assistant Prof. Katherine E. del Rosario. Their study discussed the experiences of the Tsikiting Stories Project in children’s storytelling as health promotion in the time of COVID-19.

The last presentation entitled “Status, Perceptions, and Challenges in Research among Select Higher Education Institutions in Central Visayas, Philippines” was given by Dr. Adrian Ybanez from the Diploma in Research and Development Management program, who is currently the Vice President for Research and Development at Cebu Technological University. The results of his study showed the various problems and constraints encountered in conducting research and research-based extension in HEIs. He also discussed suggestions to address these problems and constraints through strategic training, administrative measures, the inclusion of research performance in faculty evaluation, among others.

After the presentations, the panel of reactors, Dr. Gomez, Dr. Rahayuwati, and Dr. Serrano gave their feedback, analysis, and questions to the researchers. The Research Forum was closed by FMDS Research and Publication Committee Chair Asst. Prof. Queenie Ridulme by giving thanks to the panel of reactors, presenters, moderators, and FMDS and Multimedia Center staff and by inviting the audience to watch out for Research Forum 2021.

The live-streamed event garnered a total of 178 viewers and 2,426 views over three platforms (UPOU Networks, YouTube page, and Facebook page).