Three researchers from Cor Jesu College were the only participants from the Philippines during the 35th International Academic Conference held at Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain last May 15-18, 2018.
The conference, sponsored by the International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences, drew 70 researchers coming from more than 30 countries all over the world.
The three researchers from Cor Jesu College were Dr. Alex D. Niez, Dr. Kirt Anthony R. Diaz, and Dr. Randy A. Tudy. Dr. Niez presented his paper, co-authored by Engr. Wayne D. Manabat, MIT and Mr. Jonathan C. Lanterna, MIT, entitled “Auto-Shift Application Pilot (Asap) Control System: An Invention for a Trainee Friendly and Danger Free Driving Vehicle.”
Dr. Diaz presented his paper, co-authored by Jingle S. Navarez, MA, entitled “Coping Mechanisms of Philippine Students’ Left Behind by OFW Parents.”
Dr. Tudy also presented his paper entitled “Earning while Working from Home: A New Employment Opportunity in the Philippines.”
Research dissemination is one of the major activities of Cor Jesu College, facilitated by the Research and Publication Office (RPO). The school sent CJC researchers to local, national and international conferences. In the past, there were already international research presentations by CJC researchers in China, Japan, Hongkong, Malaysia, USA, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Attendance at the Barcelona Conference was funded by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) through a grant under the Institutional Development and Innovation Grant. Cor Jesu College was granted a Php 2-million fund for its Organizational Strengthening of CJC Research and Publication Project. One of the activities of this project is international research presentation.
“It is a great opportunity for us to present our research outputs in the presence of distinguished researchers coming from universities and research institutions from different parts of the world,” Dr. Diaz said. “We hope that other researchers from our school will be inspired to do more research and have the chance to present their outputs similar to our experience,” Dr. Diaz added.
Aside from the opportunity of presenting their papers, the researchers were also able to establish linkages with other researchers. “Two of the researchers we met, one from England and one from Poland, agreed to become lecturers in our graduate school. This is part of our lecture series program in which we invite foreign professors from other countries to come to Cor Jesu College and give a lecture to the graduate students. Some prefer to do it via teleconference,” Dr. Niez, who is also the Dean of the Graduate School, shared about the opportunity of adding lecturers to his department.
The host university, Pompeu Fabra University, is ranked 40th in the world in economics and business (1st in Spain and 12th in Europe). It is also the first Spanish university (position 140 worldwide and 60 in Europe), according to Times Higher Education Ranking (2018).
