UP Open University’s Diploma in R&D Management (DR&DM) program gathered experts in research and development (R&D) management for a writeshop to upgrade and update its current Diploma in R&D Management (DR&DM) program and propose a Master’s program in the same field. Held on 10-11 September 2018, DR&DM faculty members under the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies met in Los Banos, Laguna to review the program in the light of the expressed needs of its target learners and recent developments in the field.
Attending the workshop were Dr. Melinda Lumanta, Dr. Jean Saludadez, Dr. Primo Garcia, and Dr. Rogelio Cuyno from UPOU; Dr. Danilo Cardenas and Dr. Noel Catibog from the Department of Science and Technology Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD); Dr. Susan Bacud, Dr. Ana Quimbo, Dr. Jaine Reyes from UP Los Banos, and Asst. Prof. Glen Imbang from the UP Diliman Technology Management Center.
Dr. Jaine Reyes, Program Chair for the UPOU DR&DM program, explained the rationale and mechanics of the writeshop. According to Dr. Reyes, the MR&DM Writeshop was held to define how the program and courses under it will be administered. Dr. Reyes also recounted the needs assessment of potential R&D managers tackled at the DR&DM One-Day Symposium on 05 September. She also explained the learner preferences, interests and needs that led to the proposal for the development of master’s program in R&D Management.
Part of the writeshop was a discussion about the revision of existing courses under DR&DM and the institution of new courses for the Master’s program. The participants grouped themselves according to the areas of studies to develop the outlines and proposed content of the revised and new courses. Areas of studies included (1) Regulatory Environments, Compliance, Ethical and Legal Issues; R&D Leadership and Organizational Structures, Relations, and Processes in R&D Systems; and Finance Administrative and other Support Systems for R&D; (2) Creativity in R&D; Strategic R&D Management; (3) Intellectual Property Rights Management in R&D Organization; Technology Commercialization; Technology Forecasting and Evaluation; (4) Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods in R&D Management Studies; (5) R&D Project Planning and Management; S&T Policy Analysis; S&T Policy; and (6) Problem Solving and Decision Making in R&D Management.
As a result of the writeshop, the participants agreed to submit a proposal for the revision of the DR&DM program and institution of the MR&DM program to be submitted to existing university channels for approval. This initiative is supported through a project funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD). (ACLlamas)