THE UNIVERSITY’S Research Center for Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED) has been recognized as an outstanding research institution in the country by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP).
The RCSSED won the 2023 NRCP Outstanding Institution Award (Cluster 1), making it the third UST research center to receive the title.
“The award is given to outstanding institutions in recognition of their dedicated support and/or significant contribution to the growth and development of basic sciences, humanities, and the arts in the Philippines,” the letter by the NCRP, addressed to RCSSED Director Jeremaiah Opiniano, read.
From 2016 to 2017 and 2022 to 2023, the RCSSED produced a total of 494 research articles that were published in peer-reviewed journals and books.
It has also implemented various research projects that were funded by Philippine- and overseas-based external parties.
The RCSSED said it would amp up its output and explore more policy venues that involve socioeconomic issues.
“These feats were achieved amid difficult balancing acts by academic researchers to combine research with teaching, community service, and administrative duties for the University,” the center said in a statement on Facebook.
“Admittedly, Thomasian social science research still has a long way to go…Nevertheless, the women and men of RCSSED quietly persevere in utilizing research skills to provide a multi-dimensional set of interventions to confront Philippine socioeconomic issues head-on, and to hopefully contribute newer disciplinal knowledge to the world,” it added.
Established in 2017, the RCSSED is the University’s center for research in economics, business and finance studies, language and literacy studies, education and leadership studies, psychology, and contemporary social issues research.
Before RCSSED, the Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences and the Research Center for Culture, Arts, and Humanities received the outstanding research institution award in 2015 and 2021, respectively.
The Outstanding Institution Award is given by NRCP, an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology that serves as an advisory body to the government. It is composed of researchers, scientists, engineers, and technologists in various fields.
The RCSSED will receive the award on March 12 during the NRCP Annual Scientific Conference and 91st General Membership Assembly at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay.
