SBCA CHAMPIONS RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AT 1ST COTS INTERNATIONAL FACULTY CONFERENCE
By Diwata A. Macatangay
San Beda College Alabang (SBCA) took a defining step in academic leadership as it hosted and co-organized the inaugural 1st International Consortium of the South (CotS) Faculty Research Conference on February 15, 2025, at the Tugade Auditorium.
Carrying the timely and compelling theme, “Navigating Ethical Challenges: Key Issues and Strategic Solutions,” the conference convened a distinguished gathering of faculty researchers, scholars, and academic leaders from CotS member institutions. The event served as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and critical reflection on ethical dilemmas in contemporary academic and professional research. With 22 paper presentations and 14 poster exhibits, the conference fostered scholarly exchange and innovation across diverse disciplines.
Spearheaded by SBCA’s Research Unit, the conference was co-organized in partnership with the Consortium of the South – Research Committee, composed of leading academic institutions including Colegio de San Juan de Letran Calamba, Immaculate Heart of Mary College Parañaque, Laguna College of Business and Arts, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Laguna, Manila Tytana Colleges, Olivarez College Parañaque, PATTS College of Aeronautics, and Southville International School and Colleges.
In his welcome address, Rev. Fr. Gerardo Ma. De Villa, OSB, Rector-President of San Beda College Alabang, underscored the institution’s unwavering commitment to research excellence. “Identifying key issues and proposing strategic solutions in ethical research is absolutely necessary for any study to stand as a catalyst for change,” he emphasized.
The event featured a keynote address from distinguished scholar Dr. Edward Cromarty, a professor in Educational Technology and Special Education at Marist University in New York, USA, and a plenary talk by Dr. Lawrence Pedregosa, Advocacy and Communication Officer of the Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN) in Brussels, Belgium.
The overall chair of the event, Dr. Ma. Kathleen Tiglao, SBCA’s Institutional Advancement Director, provided historical context on the formation of CotS and the institution’s pivotal role in fostering research engagement. She also shared that SBCA has been hosting the CotS Undergraduate Student Research Congress since 2020, and that the elevation of the consortium’s initiatives into an international faculty research conference signals a deepening of academic partnerships. Dr. Tiglao was joined in leadership by event co-chair Mr. Brian Ben Coronel, Research and Accreditation Director of PATTS College of Aeronautics, who played a key role in mobilizing institutional collaboration and ensuring the success of the conference.
The 1st CotS International Faculty Research Conference marks a significant milestone in the Consortium of the South – Research Committee’s vision of cultivating research that is both ethically grounded and internationally relevant. It reaffirms San Beda College Alabang’s position as a vanguard of academic excellence and innovation in the South NCR.
(Above featured photo: Veteran actress and academic student, Ms. Jodi Sta. Maria presented her research paper during the parallel sessions of the 1st International Faculty Research Conference. Representing Southville International School and Colleges, a member of the Consortium of the South – Research Committee, Ms. Sta. Maria joined esteemed faculty researchers in showcasing her scholarly work, underscoring her commitment to academic excellence alongside her career in the arts.)
