SSU dreams to be recognized as one of the top twenty State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines by 2021 and among the top 200 in Asia by 2040. This is the big dream of the University, one which will be a reality if everyone works strategically towards that end. a the 2021 and 2040 strategic goals of SSU which was shared by the Vice President for Planning, Research and Extension Ronald L. Orale who welcomed about 90 guests, students and the mentors attending the 2017 Students R&D Projects Competition.
VP Orale thanked everyone specifically the students for participating in one very important activity of a University which is research. The road to international recognition is through research, almost all other indicators of an international university have its roots traceable to research productivity. This indicator of the international university includes publication, citation, patent, income from commercialization of research technologies and so on and so forth. A university performing best in R&D will produce graduates who are an innovative professional needed to make companies more efficient, productive and capable for continuous development. This is the reason why one indicator of a first world country is its innovative culture. He elaborated that the more innovative a country, the higher its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the higher Social Progress Index (SPI). In short according to him, an innovative Filipino workforce will result into an progressive Philippines, a better standard of living for everyone. He challenges all students of the university to make use of their innovative skills in the practice of their profession.
The evaluators of the competition include Dr. Ronelle Salvador, the Chairperson of the Fisheries Department of the University of Eastern Philippines (UEP); Veronica L. Reoma, a Science Research Specialist III of the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), and Rodolfo R. Dollado, the Quality Assurance Officer of Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU). There are 14 science and technology, ten social science/education, five fisheries and aquatic resources and eight ICT and Engineering research projects.
The highest scorer from all categories will be declared as the Most Outstanding Research Project, and the best in every category will be declared as the Best Paper. One best poster will also be selected.