
As part of the university’s effort toward strengthening research and extension projects across campuses and colleges, administrative officials, faculty members, and stakeholders convene for a two-day stakeholders’ consultation at a hotel in Cebu City, starting today.
Covering the Fiscal Year 2026–2030, the stakeholders’ consultation aims to assess the relevant needs across partner communities in implementing extension projects, ensuring that they are not only responsive but also transformative.

SUC President III Dr. Laurence Garcia, in his opening remarks, urged stakeholders and partners to provide their feedback on the previously undertaken extension projects of the university to effectively respond to future needs.
“Please ask us whether our research priorities remain relevant and whether our extension programs are relevant. Ask us whether the partnerships we establish are producing results,” he said.
Emphasizing the need for transformative and impactful extension projects, Dr. Garcia shared that extension and research should go hand in hand, as research must be utilized and translated through extension projects.
Dr. Garcia said that extensions must be brought to communities who need them the most as a way of translating expertise into a meaningful project.
“Extension brings our knowledge closer to the people we serve. It also brings something back to our university—the experiences, challenges, and realities of our communities for us to share with our students,” he said.

Moreover, Dr. Angeline Pogoy, the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Publication (VP-REP), in her inspirational message, highlighted the importance of collaboration among stakeholders toward the achievement of institutional, regional, and national priorities.
“This consultation is anchored on the principle that strong research and extension are co-created and not developed in isolation. This also has to be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), national priorities, ASEAN, and the university’s commitment to transformative education,” she said.
Guiding faculty members and officials in crafting their research and extension projects in line with national priorities is Dr. Tristan Abando, Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Regional Office 7.

Dr. Abando, for his part, discussed “Emerging Trends and National Research Priorities: Strategic Directions for Building a Leading Research University in the ASEAN Region through Transformative Education.”
Responding to the changing landscape across sectors, Dr. Abando called on faculty members to create research that is “anticipatory, interdisciplinary, and impact-oriented.”
His presentation also covered key areas in Ambisyon Natin 2040 and the five DOST outcomes and strategies, which are: promotion of human well-being, fostering of wealth creation, reinforcement of wealth protection, institutionalization of sustainability, and strengthening and harmonization of DOST system governance.
To ensure that the research is also aligned with ASEAN priorities, Dr. Richard Jugar, Special Advisor to the Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) also discussed the ASEAN research priorities and opportunities for collaboration among higher education institutions in the region.
Padayon, CNU!
