An orientation on the new research policies of the university was conducted by the Center for Social Innovation and Research on August 10, 2017 attended by the members of the faculty.
The activity was done in line with the publication of the 2017 edition of the SPUQC Research Manual and to inform faculty members of the research priorities of the university.
Dr. Ronel dela Cruz, CSIR Director, introduced the reformatted and renamed journals such as the International Journal on Social Innovation and Research (formerly SPUQC Journal), Circumspectus (formerly SPUQC Review), Cognoscere (the Student Research Journal), Gawi, the Journal of Paulinian Culture Studies, and the literary folio Fleur-de-lis.
The renaming and reformation of the journals is in conformity with international standards of university research publications.
The new organizational structure of the CSIR was also presented and it now consists of the following:
- Office of the Director
- The Research and Publication Division (formerly called the Publication and Training Development Office and Research Development Office)
- The Social Entrepreneurship Division
With two allied special teams:
- Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the
- Quality Assurance Team for Publication
One of the significant development is the institutionalization of research ethics board, the Institutional Review Board. Its nature, composition, responsibilities, and procedures are enumerated in the 2017 Research Manual.
While research ethics review is now being done by the CSIR, it is hoped that the Board will fully function this school year, beginning with the appointment of its members and commencement of its operation.
The IRB is created to ensure the high quality standards of the researches done by the students and faculty. A Research Ethics Protocol and Application for Ethics Review form, consent form, information sheet, and assent forms are now required in all researches and these forms are electronically available at the CSIR office.
Another notable provision in the 2017 Research Manual is the prohibition of co-authorship of advisors in student theses. This policy is in conformity with international standards of ethical research mentorship and advisorship.
Other procedural and administrative policies on the involvement on faculty members in student research, including membership in thesis defense panel were also included in the revised manual.
The policies, guidelines and procedures for research, publication, and incentives were also revised, specifically the rationalization of the research point system and the rubric for thesis proposal evaluation.
A provision that is meant to improve significantly the thesis writing skills and research output of the students is the appointment of Research Methodology (ResMet) instructors who will teach student researchers the form and style of thesis writing. The ResMet instructor will be the technical partner of the thesis advisor.
No student will be allowed to write a thesis without passing the ResMet class.
Each faculty member was given a copy of the revised manual for their guidance. A guide book for student researchers will also be published by the CSIR to be used in the ResMet classes.
The book, “Writing in the University: Thesis Writing Handbook for Student Researchers,” provides student with ready reference on what and how to write the different parts of the thesis as well as the technicalities of the APA Publications Manual, 6th Edition. The book is set to be released and used in the second semester of this academic year.