In a strong display of research-driven collaboration, Baguio Central University
successfully held its RESEARCH INSET 2025 on August 5, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 12:00NN at the Margarita Joven Fernandez Hall, gathering a total of 40 faculty participantsacross various colleges and departments. Themed “Charting Paths to Excellence inResearch, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth,” the event aimed to foster institutionalresearch excellence and stronger academic-industry linkages—firmly aligned with boththe recommendations of the PACUCOA Level II Reaccreditation and the global goals ofthe United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030 Agenda).
Spearheaded by the Research and Development Center, under the leadership of Dr. Michael T. Sebullen, Director for Research, in collaboration with the College of Business Administration (CBA) and the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management (CHTM), the event served as a strategic platform to capacitate faculty members in integrating research into instruction and community engagement. The INSET directly supports key SDGs including SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by advancing faculty development, research productivity, and cross-sectoral innovation.
The session was well-attended by faculty from the College of Nursing and School of Midwifery—which recorded the highest number of attendees—followed by participants from the CBA, CHTM, College of Criminal Justice Education, College of Engineering, and the Graduate School. The presence of faculty from both general education and professional programs underscored the University’s unified vision of inclusive and interdisciplinary research advancement. Two distinguished speakers shared their expertise: Engr. Aloysius ‘Alec’ C. Mapalo, Supervising Tourism Operations Officer of the City Government of Baguio, opened the lecture series with “Innovative Teaching Methods for Bridging Academe and Industry,” drawing from his multidisciplinary experience in engineering, education, and tourism governance. This was followed by Dr. Ayson D. Depayso, a tourism researcher and educator from Cordillera Career Development College and incoming visiting professor at De La Salle–Lipa, who delivered a compelling talk on “The Research Nexus: Creating Pathways between Academe and Industry.” Her lecture, which focused on sustainable tourism, international collaboration, and local development, concluded with a workshop session to assist faculty in preparing for their title defense in the upcoming Institutional Research Colloquium. Despite minor challenges—such as a brief five-minute delay due to traffic affecting the first speaker, incomplete AV facilities caused by ongoing construction, and the half-day schedule due to budgetary constraints—the event was met with enthusiastic feedback. Many participants praised the relevance of the discussions and expressed appreciation for the knowledge gained, noting that the event enhanced their capacity to align academic outputs with real-world issues and development frameworks. RESEARCH INSET 2025 stands as a significant milestone in BCU’s continuous journey toward accreditation excellence, research-driven education, and sustainable institutional transformation. By rooting its research programs in both national accreditation standards and the global development agenda, BCU reaffirms its role as a catalyst of change in higher education and a champion of research for inclusive, innovative, and resilient communities.
