By Aerol B. Patena
MANILA, Jan 26 (PNA) — The Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), is pushing for the establishment of a national consortium of state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private higher educational institutions (HEIs) to further strengthen the basic research system of the country.
Ermie Bacarra, chief of PCIEERD Human Resources Development Division, stated in an interview that establishing linkages among higher educational institutions is imperative to boost their capability and resources in implementing research and development (R&D) initiatives as the country prepares for ASEAN integration by 2015.
“We need to ensure that our R&D programs should be at par with our neighbors,” she said.
Bacarra said that most of the colleges and universities in the country have not fully developed their resources on R&D.
According to her, there has been a disparity on the quality of research outputs of educational institutions belonging to the National Science Consortium (NSC) and the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) consortium and its nonmembers.
Thus, it is important to build the capability of researchers, faculty and students of learning institutions especially in the countryside.
As part of its mandate to boost the country’s human resources, PCIEERD is set to organize a forum with various SUCs and private colleges and universities on January 28 at the DOST Executive Lounge in Bicutan City, Taguig.
The meeting expects to craft R&D proposals that would address national concerns such as climate change adaptation, establishment of an efficient transport system, renewable energy, among others.
“This conference will provide an opportunity for educational institutions to share their best practices and collaborate with each other on how to further improve their R&D programs,” Bacarra said.
PCIEERD assures that it will continue on implementing capability building initiatives through providing research and dissertation grants, organizing trainings and seminars and establishing linkages with state universities and colleges as well as private higher educational institutions to strengthen the development of a research and development (R&D) agenda in the country. (PNA)