293- Description and analysis of changes in social institutions; social dimensions of
adoption and utilization of ICT in individuals, organizations, and communities;
and social analysis of virtual communities and interactions
On the other hand, the priority areas in natural sciences are: - Physical oceanography, marine coastal geology
- Engineering geology, volcanology, hydrology, seismology
- Vulnerability of biodiversity, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals,
mariculture- derived pollution - Instrumentation, materials science
- Systems biology, genetics, biodiversity, and three-domain scheme
- Intelligent systems, molecular simulation/modeling, natural products, materials
research, greener technologies for minerals, coal, geothermal, petroleum - Bioassays, diagnostics, drug/cure discovery, biosensors
- Biochemistry, biotechnology, molecular biology
In its revised policy for the grants-in-aid funds for research and development, the
CHED identifies critical and urgent challenges in higher education research
(Commission on Higher Education 2015 ). These challenges are improving research
capability; increasing research productivity; upgrading quality and impact; stepping
up linkages with community, business, and industry; using products of research as
inputs to policy initiatives and reforms; and building up a steady pipeline of young
talented researchers (Commission on Higher Education 2015 ). In order to address
these challenges, the CHED explains the deeper purpose of higher education and
that is “to contribute to the development of a strong research culture and innovative
ecosystem that enables researchers and scientists in colleges and universities to
explore new frontiers that may lead to a new technological innovations and better
ways to solve economic and social issues in partnership with a wide range of stake-
holders” (Commission on Higher Education 2015 ). It also identifies priority areas
that will be given grants-in-aid funds. These are food production and security, envi-
ronment, disaster prevention, climate change and energy, biodiversity and conserva-
tion, smart analytics and engineering innovation, health systems, and education
(Commission on Higher Education 2015 ). Researches on these areas must be guided
by the principles of collaboration, multidisciplinary, gender sensitivity and gender
balance, and training ground for young researchers (Commission on Higher
Education 2015 ).
These policy changes provide direction for higher education research. As an aca-
demic undertaking, higher education must be able to produce research outputs that
will make Philippine colleges and universities globally competitive. These are the
types of research that do not only contribute to the development of a particular dis-
cipline or discover new knowledge but also engage scholars in the different parts of
the world in a meaningful discourse. These changes also set the tone of research
which is to address local and global problems such as poverty, food security, and
climate change.
16 Higher Education Research in the Philippines: Policies and Prospects