Province of Rizal– Members of the faculty of the University of Rizal System (URS) have been making ripples in the international academic community, with no less than seven peer-reviewed research papers accepted for publication in top international journals since 2025. Covering a range of topics from construction management to online education, financial literacy, sustainable fishing, and women in leadership, these research papers offer workable solutions to the most urgent problems in the Philippines.
The string of published research papers showcases the varied skills of URS faculty members. At the top of the list is “Curriculum Development and Feasibility Study of the Program, Master of Science in Construction Management” by Engr. Michael Pascua, Engr. Von Cyrell San Jose, Ar. Lyndon Sheridan Trinidad, Engr. John Troy Borromeo, and Engr. Joshua Tejada, published in the International Journal of Environmental Sciences (IJES) (Volume 11, No. 24, 2025), which recommends a new graduate program to enhance construction skills in the face of escalating infrastructure requirements in the Philippines.
Education and pedagogy are given prominence in two research papers. Prof. Jeremias Rivera’s “Embedding the Teaching of English Major Courses into Relational Pedagogy: A Parallel Convergence Study of Perceptions of Students and Teachers” (IJES, Volume 11, No. 23, 2025) is on the relationship between students and teachers in English education. Likewise, Dr. Norberto Nataño’s “Beyond and Across Online English Teaching: A Phenomenological Inquiry of the Experiences of Online English Teachers from ESL Companies” (TPM – Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, Volume 32, No. S6, 2025) is on the human side of online ESL teaching.
Financial and community-oriented research completes the list of accomplishments. Dr. Ariel Plantilla’s “Financial Literacy of Academic Personnel of the University of Rizal System: Basis for Intervention Program” (International Journal of Accounting and Economics Studies, Volume 12, No. 6, 2025) points out the shortcomings in the financial knowledge of educators, opening the way for intervention programs. In fisheries management, “Social Dimension of Fisheries Co-Management and Engagement of Fisherfolk Community in Rizal Province” by Prof. Jeremy Aterrado, Prof. Johanne Aterrado, Dr. Niclie Tiratira, Prof. Mannellie Liwayway Herrera, Prof. Czarina Ann Alfonso, Dr. Mariam Estrabo, and Prof. Norlyn San Juan.
Importantly, at the top of the list is Dr. Analyn Inarda’s “Enduring Spirit through the Odds: Phenomenologizing the Experiences of Women Academic Leaders in a VUCA Environment” (Educational Process International Journal, Volume 21, 2026, Article e2026025), which embodies the spirit of female leaders who persevere in the face of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
URS President, Dr. Nancy Pascual commended the researchers, “These publications not only enhance our institution’s reputation in the global arena but also serve as key insights for policy, education, and community development initiatives.”
