LUCBAN, Quezon – Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) faculty members recently joined the first installment of this year’s Huntahan: The SLSU International Research Seminar Series themed "From Inquiry to Impact: Advanced Skills in Research Methods and Publishing," February 5 to 7.
“At the heart of impactful research is a solid design.” This statement, from SLSU President Dr. Frederick T. Villa’s message during the Huntahan opening ceremony, highlighted the critical role of methodology in research. Dr. Villa emphasized that choosing a research approach is more than a technicality; it reflects the researcher’s core questions, desired answers, and intended impact. He was joined at the opening program by key university officials, including Dr. Arvin N. Natividad, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Vice President for Administrative and Financial Affairs, Dr. Marissa C. Esperal, Vice President for Research, Extension, Production, Development, and Innovation, and Dr. Nicanor L. Guinto, Director, Office of Research Services (ORS).
The three-day session aimed to keep SLSU faculty abreast of evolving skills and best practices in research, with featured resource persons from Cagayan State University (CSU) Andrews Campus. Dr. Alma B. Manera, Professor IV specializing in Social Studies and Language Education, led the first day’s masterclass on research publishing. Her talk covered topics ranging from navigating Scopus and Web of Science-indexed databases to preparing manuscripts for reputable publishers like Elsevier, IGI, SRRN, Springer, Taylor & Francis, and IEEE. Dr. Manera also provided insights into the journal and publisher publication process.
The opening day drew 131 attendees, with 56 participating in person and 75 online. Since the online sessions were open to the public, participants included researchers and other interested individuals from agencies outside SLSU, such as DepEd Central Office, Cavite State University, and the University of the Philippines Los Baños.
Day two focused on research design, with Dr. Apolinaria D. Andres, Professor IV specializing in Mathematics and Educational Management, leading the morning session on quantitative research design. Her talk covered the principles, processes, and designs of quantitative research, including measurement tools, data collection methods, statistical techniques, and ethical considerations. Dr. Andres also highlighted the importance of citation styles and provided guidance on using citation management tools.
The afternoon session on day two featured Dr. Rudolf T. Vecaldo, Professor VI specializing in Social Studies and Educational Management. Dr. Vecaldo’s keynote provided a deep dive into qualitative research design, from formulating effective open-ended questions to conducting impactful conversations and using thematic analysis. Additionally, he shared insights into what peer reviewers look for in submitted journal articles.
Interactive Q&A sessions were held on the first two days, allowing participants to seek clarifications and engage directly with the guest experts.
The final day shifted to a mentorship format, true to the spirit of “Huntahan” (a conversation). Participants consulted with the resource persons on their research proposals, completed research, and other related work.
Huntahan remains an initiative for faculty and staff development, offering expert-led discussions that support research excellence and career growth. Building on the success of this initial event, the ORS will host further Huntahan seminars throughout 2025. For future announcements, interested participants may visit the ORS Facebook page or website.
Article and layout by: Glen Cuya