With the commitment to establishing a research- intensive institution, Biliran Province State University marked an increase in its scopus-indexed publications with the latest count reaching 43 scopus documents as of November 2024 - more than doubled its output from just 19 international scopus publications in 2023.

Research Director Dr. Pearl Irish De Paz confirmed this achievement, which was also acknowledged by Dr. Don Eliseo Prisno, Founder of GHF- University Excellence, in a recent post. Dr. Prisno, who was recently named 2024 World top 2% scientist, praised BiPSU for hosting numerous research initiatives this year that contributed to this increase. 

“When I started engaging with BiPSU a few months back, we were just at 19,” Dr. Prison stated. “We are rising very fast with all the intensive research initiatives we are implementing.”

Dr. Prisno highlights BiPSU’s swift progress, attributing it to the efforts of the university’s faculty and researchers. He noted that BiPSU’s publications stand out for their scientific quality, often surpassing outputs from many institutions in the country, which has led to increased research funding. “Keep up the good work, BiPSU! Towards a research-intensive university!” he added.

Strengthening partnerships for Research Excellence

It can be noted that BiPSU began its partnership with GHF- University Excellence earlier this year, formalizing a memorandum of agreement on January 18, 2024. Such collaboration was established to enhance the university's research and innovation, specifically by focusing on publishing papers in Scopus-indexed journals.

Through its engagement with GHF, BiPSU aims to improve its standing on world university platforms, further aligning with its goal of becoming a research-intensive institution.

Faculty EMpowerment Program

As part of its ongoing initiatives, BiPSU has launched a series of faculty development programs under its educational mentorship, or EMpowerment, initiative. Spearheaded by the Research Development Office (RDO), these programs were designed to strengthen faculty expertise, with a particular focus on research mentorship. 

Launched in July this year by the administration headed by University President, Dr. Victor C. Canezo, Jr., the EMpowerment program has already made a positive impact, equipping faculty members with enhanced skills to contribute more effectively to BiPSU’s research goals and elevate the university’s current academic standing.

Recently, BiPSU conducted a three-day research mentorship program focused on Scopus publication, held from October 23-25, 2024, at the BiPSU Hyflex Audio-Visual Center (HAVC). The program was led by Prof. Prisno, along with Mr. Jerico Ogaya, Dr. Prisno's program manager.

The mentorship program aimed to boost faculty research capabilities by providing strategies for identifying reputable Scopus-indexed journals. It also included writeshop and mentoring sessions where participants presented their manuscripts and received feedback from Dr. Prisno, ensuring their papers met the publication standards of Scopus journals.

In- House Review for Research and Development Outputs successfully conducted

BiPSU RDO also conducted In-House Reviews for research and development (R&D) outputs which involved various schools from the Naval and Biliran campuses, aimed to ensure the quality of R&D outputs by BiPSU’s faculty researchers with the assistance of external experts, increasing their chances of publication in reputable research journals.

In the previous interviews, Dr. Pearl Irish de Paz, RDO Director, emphasized the significance of these mentorship programs, stating, “Through this workshop, faculty members are taught how to write publishable papers and are also guided in submitting their papers to Scopus-indexed journals.” 

50k Research Incentives grants for Researchers

BiPSU’s commitment to research excellence is strengthened by significant grants, including a ₱50,000 research incentive awarded to researchers who successfully publish in Scopus-indexed journals. This financial support not only enhances the university’s research infrastructure but also helps attract and retain talented researchers dedicated to producing impactful work.

Recently, BiPSU acknowledged the achievements of nine (9) faculty members who published articles in Scopus-indexed journals, awarding each of them this incentive. This initiative is made possible through Board of Regents (BOR) Resolution 25-11 and the revised BiPSU Research and Innovation Manual dated June 30, 2021.

University President Dr. Victor C. Canezo Jr. expressed pride in BiPSU’s achievements, stating, “The progress we’re witnessing is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of our faculty, researchers, and staff, who are unwavering in their commitment to enhancing our university's standing. Each publication brings us closer to our goal of becoming not just an internationally recognized institution but also a research-intensive university. I am confident that BiPSU will continue to serve as a hub for impactful, high-quality research.”

Dr. Canezo claimed that several more publications are anticipated in the coming months. “BiPSU is well on its way to achieving its goal of increasing the number of Scopus-indexed publications and ensuring that we continue to weave a legacy of worthiness,” he affirmed.

[This article aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 4: Quality Education, SGD 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.]