The university started another first towards its dream of achieving one of the SSU-College of Graduate Studies student outcomes, a graduate who is highly critical and innovative. Among the many first to be introduced in the years ahead are presentation and publication requirements for graduation. For the school year 2017-2018, no graduate (Masters’) and post Graduate (Doctorate) students can graduate without presenting at least one and two research papers in a scientific conference respectively. This SY 2016-2017, the presentation is not yet a graduation requirement; however, the Dean of the College, Dr. Victoria Tafalla with the approval of the top management conducted the 2017 Graduate Research Project Competition as a prequel of what will it be in the next school year. All this according to her is towards achieving the 2040 vision of the SSU of becoming internationally recognized. All agree that it is an ambitious dream but not impossible.
For the 2017 competition, seventeen research and development project were shortlisted out of a total of more than 66 completed projects. With four categories, the following were selected as the winners as judged by Dr. Gabino Petilos of the Commission of Higher Education –Region 8(CHEd-8), Dr. Catherine B. Rodriguez of Northwest Samar State University and the CGS Dean, Dr. Victoria Tafalla.
Best Dissertation: Higher Education Institutions Information Systems Acquisition Decision Model Development
Author: Rodolfo F. Dollado Jr.
Course: Doctor of Philosophy in Technology Management
Best Masters’ Thesis: Aligning Samar State University Architectural Drafting Program Subsequent to International Accord Framework
Author: Mary Ann Y. Abalos
Course: Master of Technician Education – Drafting Technology
Best Development Plan: School Improvement Plan (SIP) for Bahay Elementary School
Author: Mea T. Yopo
Course: Master in Education – Educational Management
Best in Independent Study: Re-vegetating Bagacay Mining Site: A Review of Potential Tropical Species for Phytoremediation of Non-essential Heavy Metals
Author: John Rey Y. Dayang
Course: Master in Public Management
Dr. Felisa E. Gomba, the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) in her opening message has congratulated the College for instituting changes in the Graduate School in response to the challenges ahead. On the other hand, the VP for Planning R&E (VPPRE) Dr. Ronald Orale who closed the event told the rest of the students in attendance that the changes are going to be challenging, but SSU will be facilitative for them to hurdle the requirement. The journey towards excellence is never ending according to the two Vice Presidents, the learning and the experience in doing more relevant research projects and sharing it must not stop in the corners of SSU. This innovative skills acquired needs to be used in their respective areas of work says the VPPRE. Being innovative is an important variable in being efficient and effective which will eventually result in more value to the outcomes produced.
The competition was spearheaded by the Dean of College of Graduate Studies in coordination with the Planning Research and Extension Offices specifically by the Directors Engr. Mirador Labrador of Center for Engineering, S&T Innovations (CESTI), Dr. Sherie Ann C. Labid of the Research Center for Culture and Social Issues (RCCSI) and the Jesus T. Racuyal of the Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Research and Development (RCCSI).