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J. Jung et al. (eds.), Researching Higher Education in Asia, Higher Education in
Asia: Quality, Excellence and Governance, DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-4989-7_16
Chapter 16
Higher Education Research in the Philippines:
Policies and Prospects
Christian Bryan S. Bustamante
Abstract This chapter is about higher education research in the Philippines. It pro-
vides an overview about the status and challenges of Philippine higher education
research. The focus of the discussion is on the policies of the Philippines’
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on improving higher education research
in the country. The chapter starts with a discussion on the status of the scientific
research in the Philippines 67 years ago. It is followed by a discussion on the status
of higher education research and on the current policies initiated by the CHED as
well as the research trends and prospects in order to develop the culture of research
and the quality of research output in Philippine higher education.
Research in higher education becomes a key priority because of its vital importance
to development and innovation. Its significance in “supporting technological inno-
vation” is growing (The World Bank 2012 , p. 30). That is why its critical objective
is not only to produce graduates who are proficient and innovative (The World Bank
2012 , P. 30) but also to deliver quality research. Higher education research has
evolved to a concept that is “equated with publication” (Blake et al. 1998 , p. 67). It
is a research that is “recognized by peers and that pushes back the frontiers of
knowledge as well as can be measured and communicated” (Altbach 2004 , p. 2).
Research is also one of the indicators used in measuring the quality of higher
education. “World-class universities” are recognized because of their superior out-
puts: well-qualified graduates, leading-edge research published in top scientific
journals, and contribution to technical innovations through patents and licenses
(Salmi 2009 , p. 17). Following the path of “world-class universities,” higher educa-
tion institutions are exerting effort to attract, recruit, and retain competent and lead-
ing academics and to source out abundant and sustainable funds in order to produce
quality research output (Altbach and Salmi 2011 , pp. 326, 329, 331). Integrating
C.B.S. Bustamante (*)
San Beda College, Manila, Philippines
e-mail: [email protected]