University Research Council

The University Research Council (URC) is one of the co-equal Councils of the University. It is mandated “to promote, encourage, and celebrate research and publication” (ADDU Administrative Manual, 2018:63) across all units in the University

It also serves as the recommending body for all research and publication-related endeavors by the members of the University.

Working directly under the President, the URC is guided by the collective wisdom of appointed members of the University coming from, but not necessarily a representative of, the Units the members come from.

Functions and Responsibilities

The University Research Council shall also have, but not limited to, the following specific functions:

1. Recommends policies to the University President pertinent to research and publication;

2. Formulates and recommends to the University President research thrusts, priorities, and agenda pertinent to research, publication, and innovation as well as standards of the University in the conduct of the same;

3. Comes up with plans, sets up enabling procedures, and devises structures in carrying out its mandate;

4. Manages the research budget of the University that is principally aimed for incubation of research at the University and accomplishment of research demanded by the University’s Vision and Mission;

5. Runs and implements the overall evaluation process of research proposals submitted by University personnel and members of the Davao Jesuit Community, and submits the results of its review and evaluation as support for recommendations to the University President;

6. Reviews all research and publication-related contracts, and submits the results of its review and evaluation as recommendations for the approval of the University President;

7. Evaluates the quality of research submitted for purposes of merit, rank, and promotion;

8. Ensures close communication, relationship, and cooperation among research, publication, and innovation centers, institutes, and offices; and

9. Exercises oversight function over offices, centers, and institutes within the University that are primarily oriented towards research, publication, and innovation. The oversight function of the Council over centers and institutes within the University shall be construed in a manner that offices, centers and institutes within the University are primarily oriented towards publication and research. The offices, centers and institutes shall:

   1. Receive support (i.e., seed money) to help them get started and/or sustain their operations, such as starting office equipment, furniture and supplies; special training programs and/ or capability-building workshops for its own personnel and staff; wages/honorarium for specific, short-term jobs needed for the office; generalized support for communication and coordination purposes; and projects.

   2. Enjoy operational independence in the arena of their regular, day-to-day, project-to-project operations. Said entities shall work in conjunction with their respective home departments with the exception of an entity which per the mandate of the University President shall be associated with the URC and not any Department;

   3. Submit report to the URC in this sequence, opening of the school year, a basic plan for the entire year; in time for the August Board of Trustees meeting, an update relative to the Year’s Plan; in time for the February Board of Trustees meeting, another update; yearend report, report of activities and projects relative to concerned agenda and vision–mission, funding accessed outside the University and its utilization and a note on specific help/support requested from the URC for the incoming school year;

   4. Coordinate with and be accountable to the URC when it comes to research agenda; and funding, budget proposal process and office and project funds; and

   5. Assist the URC in certain tasks pertinent to the emergence of an ADDU manner of proceeding in the arena of research and publication.

Objectives

The main objectives of the University Research Council are the following:

1. To foster a research culture anchored on the University’s mission, vision, and goals;

2. To encourage the University community to engage in research initiatives that push forward the research agenda of the University, as articulated in the University Strategic Plan;

3. To create a scholarly environment by setting up mechanisms for research and innovation that would lead to publication and/or commercialization endeavors; and

4. To ensure that all institutional research abides by the ethical guidelines set by the University and by the standards of their respective disciplines.

The Council & Staff

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Centers/Institutes

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