The University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) continues to raise the bar for research excellence with the successful conduct of the 2025 Student Research Conference and Policy Pitching Competition, held on July 31, 2025, via Zoom. This flagship event reaffirms the University’s commitment to cultivating a research culture that empowers undergraduate student researchers to transform academic outputs into impact-driven solutions and policies.

Organized by the Research and Development Division (RDD), the full-day conference was anchored on the theme “Transforming Communities through Research, Development, and Innovation.” It featured research paper presentations, a plenary session, and a structured policy pitching competition that are not only academically sound but also socially relevant, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Gender and Development (GAD) framework. The event brought together undergraduate student researchers from four thematic clusters: (1) Sustainable Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR); (2) Business, Economics, and Governance; (3) Engineering and Information and Communication Technology (ICT); and (4) Education, Arts, and Sciences.

Opening the virtual platform for impactful discourse, Dr. Merlina H. Juruena, RDD Director, set the tone with a strong call to action, encouraging undergraduate students to harness their research as a force for community transformation. On behalf of University President Dr. Bonifacio G. Gabales, Jr., Dr. Roger C. Montepio, Vice President for RDE, delivered an inspiring message emphasizing the indispensable role of student voices in shaping responsive policies and advancing societal progress. Meanwhile, Dr. Randy A. Tudy, Deputy Director of the Publication Unit, grounded the event’s purpose by highlighting the alignment of research outputs with the SDGs and GAD frameworks, reinforcing the relevance and impact of student-driven initiatives.

The Plenary Talk, also delivered by Dr. Montepio, further deepened the discourse by challenging student researchers to go beyond academic compliance. He emphasized that research should not end in the classroom or remain confined within written reports. Instead, he urged them to embrace research as a lifelong mission, one that bridges ideas to action and knowledge to transformation.

The momentum carried into the Policy Pitching Competition, moderated by Geol. Christian Paul F. Escarian, served as a compelling showcase of undergraduate students’ ingenuity. Featuring a diverse range of topics, from wireless vital sign monitoring systems to UAV-driven pesticide drift reduction and fungicide efficacy for crop protection, the session revealed the capacity of USeP students to propose policy-ready, tech-driven, and community-aligned solutions. The competition fostered skills in critical thinking, research translation, and policy advocacy.

Following the policy pitching was the Research Paper Presentations, facilitated by program emcee Ms. Lewi B. Origenes, spotlighted a wide spectrum of undergraduate research organized within the four thematic clusters. Each presenter articulated their study’s significance, methodology, and findings. The session promoted interdisciplinary dialogue, encouraged constructive critique, and enhanced students’ research communication skills, serving as preparation for future dissemination, publication, and policy engagement.

Throughout the conference, an esteemed panel of evaluators provided expert insights and academic guidance throughout the presentations.

The conference reached its pinnacle with the Awarding Ceremony, where the best policy pitch and most outstanding research papers were recognized with certificates and tokens of recognition. These winning entries will be recommended for potential presentation at regional or national research forums.

AWARDEES