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Flagship 4 CEDF-IT R & D Institutionalization Unit

Rationale

Across many academic disciplines, leaders of education, industry and national life have recognized the importance of the university mission to conduct research and development - both as an adjunct to instruction that keeps curricular content and faculty competence sharp and relevant, and as an independent contribution to society and scientific heritage.

It is unfortunate to note that in the current stat of the country's educational system, not only in the teaching of IT but in other filed as well, the quality of thesis-writing and special projects are of the "run-of-the-mill" type.  In IT education radical improvement in this regard is quite crucial since IT is an "applied, practical" science.  Thus, unless thesis or special projects are taken seriously, and are oriented towards industry needs, students do not at all profit from this R & D exercise.  On the other hand, done properly, writing a thesis or implementing a special IT project can be powerful learning tools.

In view of these realizations, CEDF-IT's proactive intervention in the HR sector will be largely enhanced by the establishment and institutionalization of R & D units in all of its member-schools.  University-based R & D Units will provide the impetus for the four (4) broad areas of R & D activities, as follows:

1. Basic and applied research in ICT disciplines, leading to original contributions to local and international scientific meetings and publications;
2. Technology development, including systems and software design and evaluation;
3. Systems and educational innovation, including research in support of instruction such as educational research and assessments and the development of computer-aided instruction systems; and,
4. ICT as a tool for research in other disciplines, such as business management engineering and medicine.

Project Phase

The project shall take about two years to complete, in accordance with the following project phases:

Phase 1 (four months)

A series of workshops and focus group discussions with the Executive Management, the deans and faculty members of CEDF-IT member-schools.  Output for this phase shall be the concurrence of specific CEDF-IT member-schools -- to be covered by a Memorandum of Agreement with CEDF-IT -- to undertake with CEDF-IT the creation and/or the institutionalization of an R & D unit as part of their ICT department.

Phase 2 (one year)

Recruitment, training, actual establishment and "grand launching" of R & D units in CEDF-IT member-schools.

Phase 3 (eight months)

Internship Stage for R & D units among the participating CEDF-IT member-schools.  Three (3) especially selected R & D projects shall be implemented.  The final outputs of these R & D projects shall be presented during CEDF-IT's "ICT R & D Institutionalization Concluding Conference".

Project Objectives and Outputs

The long-term goal is to ensure that the universities serving Cebu employers have ICT R & D capabilities commensurate with the size and potential of Cebu's ICT industry.

Although the industry is not so large at present, it is the largest and most export-capable local ICT industry outside of Metro-Manila.

Out medium-term, specific objectives are as follows:

1. To train a team of R & D teams that shall spearhead the creation and institutionalization of R & D units in the CEDF-IT member schools;
2. To establish an R & D Institutionalization Unit within CEDF-IT that shall "mentor", facilitate, oversee and monitor the establishment of aforesaid university-based R & D units; and
3. To organize the CEDF-IT "ICT R & D Institutionalization Concluding Conference" to be held at the end of the two-year project wherein the final outputs of three especially selected ICT R & D Projects from each participating CEDF-IT member-schools shall be exhibited or presented.

Project Benefits and Beneficiaries

This project shall be most beneficial to both the academe and industry.

1. In the academe, an R & D unit serves to truly make the faculty proud and motivated.  Proud to pursue a field of endeavor that clearly contributes to society or national interest.  Motivated by the knowledge that their competence4 is continually enhanced by R & D in as many creative ways as the current technology and state of their profession would lead them.
2. Through an honest -to-goodness R & D unit, students are able to really apply their knowledge and skills in challenging projects that could bring out the best in them.  Except as a consequence, therefore, better quality graduates: more assertive, resourceful, and diligent.
3. Industry finally finds in the academe a serious partner for academe-industry linkages and programs (for use by on-the-job trainees, for examples) that will ultimately benefit the students, the teachers, and the even general public.

Project Implementation Scheme & Detailed Mechanics

To achieve the above-enumerated objectives, CEDF-IT shall organize several activities in support of the institutionalization process.

Phase 1

1. Organize the Stakeholders Brainstorming Workshop:  Research Agenda and Support Requirements for ICT R & D in Cebu.  The CEDF-IT member-schools shall be invited to tackle the role and importance of establishing an honest-to-goodness R & D unit in their respective universities.  Resource speakers from the industry and "progressive" academic institutions shall be invited to present their experience on a institutionalized R & D.
2. Conduct the Workshop cum Focus Group Discussion with Executive Management of CEDF-IT member-schools.  With the inputs from the previous workshop, CEDF-IT member-schools shall hopefully be convinced of the advantages and even necessity of institutionalizing an R & D unit for an academic pursuit to truly flourish.
3. Sign MOA with participating CEDF-IT member-schools.  The end of Phase 1 is the commitment of specific CEDF-IT member-schools to collaborate with CEDF-IT in establishing and institutionalizing an R & D unit in their respective universities.  The MOA signing shall signal their institutional commitment to the project.

Phase 2

1. Form the R & D teams for each participating CEDF-IT member-schools.
2. Organize the Basic Training on Setting-up and R & D Unit for said R & D teams.  The basic training shall include all aspects of setting-up the unit, including but not necessarily limited to the following:
   • Role of the R & D Director and the Job Description of the R & D Staff
   • Managing an R & D Unit
   • Conceptualizing, Sourcing Funds and Implementing and R & D Project
   • Collaborating with Industry on an R & D Project
   • Technical Report Writing
   • Presentation of Research Findings in the Proper Forum
3. Mentor each R & D Team as they actual set-up their respective R & D unit.

Phase 3

Organize the CEDF-IT "ICT R & D Institutionalization Concluding Conference".  This conference shall cap the two-year project.  The final outputs of three especially selected ICT R & D Projects from each participating CEDF-IT member-schools shall be exhibited or presented during the conference.

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