DATE: November 3 - 4, 2022 |
PARTNER ORGANIZATION: Don Bosco Institutes of the Philippines |
PARTICIPANTS' PROFILE: Program representatives from TVET institutions under the Don Bosco-One TVET Philippines Network |
Research and Development (R&D) is one of the major criteria in evaluating the excellence of a TVET institution and is considered an important component in institutional development, especially when they are applying for accreditation to the Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC). Having a good R&D system is necessary to ensure that the institution will be able to carry out innovative programs and ideas effectively, enabling its total transformation into an institution that embodies excellence and progress. It is also necessary for the institution to gain a reputation of being a reputable center for learning, one that applies and implements the correct and simple methods in conducting the most basic research pursuits.
However, its implementation remains to be a challenge, particularly in the TVET institutions in the Philippines. According to the recent CPSC study regarding the performance of APACC-accredited institutions in the country, the average score of the total APACC-accredited institutions in R&D was 50.90%. This pales in contrast with institutions in its ASEAN neighbors Malaysia and Thailand, whose institutions’ average scores in R&D were 90.40% and 74.20% respectively.
The relatively dismal performance of Filipino TVET institutions is a cause for concern. In order to establish a good system and appreciation of R&D in the institution, and to translate these lessons to the actual performance of the students, TVET practitioners should be taught of standard ways of appreciating, processing, and implementing these activities for the betterment of their own operations.
This program will therefore tackle the root cause of the problem which is the appreciation of research in the institutions. The central objective is to impart creative, simple, and easy ways for institutions and their stakeholders to process, understand and apply the scientific method of research in their activities, particularly in developing proposals, papers, and other academic pursuits. The long-term aim of the program is to strengthen not only the technical knowledge of research but to address the intimidation and stereotypes regarding research that may have prevented its total appreciation.
This program will be designed specifically to the needs of the Don Bosco Schools in the Philippines with their objective to “strengthen and expand” the research culture in TVET. The program coordinators believe that before embarking on a research problem, an understanding of the research purpose, recognizing the research problem, and embarking on the most basic research proposal will be important to lay the foundations of research appreciation in school personnel. Thus, this program will start on the basics of the research problem and will be tailor-fitted on providing motivation, encouragement, and honest feedback about the research journeys of the participants.
The participants are expected to:
- Understand the research method and use their understanding in fostering the research culture of their respective institutions.
- To improve their personal understanding of research and create simple yet relevant research proposals that can be used for institutional development.
- To further introduce ways to enhance the institutional capacity of the institution by strengthening their institutes’ research and development component.
To achieve the objectives set forth, the following strategies will be employed in a consultative approach:
- Theme paper presentations on the following:
- Understanding the Research Problem
- Overview of the Research Process in TVET
- Creation of a Research Proposal
- Exercises and workshops on the following:
- Workshop on the appreciation of the Research Process in TVET
- Workshop on the Development of a Research Proposal
- Lesson Plans and Program Modules
- Draft Research Proposal
- Situation paper of the research status in their respective TVET institutes
- Handouts and theme paper presentations
- Understanding the Research Problem
- Overview of the Research Process in TVET
- Creation of a Research Proposal
The meeting cum workshop activities are directed towards the formulation of a research proposal per program, which will be ready enough for implementation as a full-blown research.
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Prior to his appointment as the Director General, he was a professor at the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka since 2015. Here also held key administrative posts during his career: as a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Vocational Technology (2016-2019), former Chairman of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning (CODL) of the University of Moratuwa (2015-2016), and former head of the Department of Textile and Clothing Technology (2009-2012). He also served as the Chairman of Alethea International School (2017-2021), an independent non-executive Director of Orit Apparels Lanka Ltd. (2014-2016), and Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel (2010-2015). He also served as the Director of Technical and Quality Assurance of Brandix Textiles Ltd (2013-2014). He also served as chairman and member of various public sector strategic and technical committees. He also published over 60 research publications on topics related to textile engineering and educational management, of which over 30 are international refereed journal publications. He was honored with 18 national and international awards including Emerald Literary Award (2018), President's Award for Scientific Publications (2017), and NRC Merit Award for Scientific Publication (2016, 2011). The World Education Congress also honored him with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Education in “Sri Lanka Education Leadership Awards” in 2018. Prof. Wickramasinghe is a graduate of a Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering from the University of Moratuwa in 1993 by which he obtained first class honors. He finished his PhD at the University of Manchester in 2003. He also obtained a PG Certificate in Learning and Teaching, the University of Arts London, UK in 2006 and an MBA in the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka in 2008. |
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He obtained his Ph.D. in Wireless Communication at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in 2014, and his Master of Engineering degree in Electrical, Electronic and Telecommunication in 2005 in the same university. He has a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Electronics and Telecommunication) degree from the College University Institute of Tun Hussein Onn (KUITTHO), currently known as UTHM - Malaysia where he also obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Education in 1999. He also has a Certificate and Diploma in Electrical and Telecommunication Engineering from Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic in Pahang, Malaysia. He has an extensive teaching experience in higher technical education working as a lecturer at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS), Kuantan, Pahang from 1999-2003; and as lecturer and training officer at Sultan Azlan Shah Polytechnic (PSAS), Tanjung Malim, Perak from 2005-2008. He was appointed as Senior Lecturer at Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS) from 2009-2016. He was posted as Head of Department for Mathematical, Science and Computer at Polytechnic Sandakan Sabah, at East Malaysia at Borneo Island from 2017-2021. His former position was as Principal Lecturer in Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS), Kuantan, Pahang in Malaysia. He has been involved in Higher Education Curriculum Development programmes for electrical engineering courses, specifically in the optoelectronic field, in Polytechnics system in Malaysia. He has been involved in consultation works as well, one of his areas is on the 5G network for Malaysia. He has over 25 research publications on electronic and telecommunications which were published in prestigious journals such as the Advanced Journal of Technical and Vocational Education, International Journal of Electronics, and Radioengineering. He is also a reviewer for some of journals articles published by IEEE, PIERS, HINDAWI and others for international publications and conferences. |
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As an RPID Officer, his major tasks include the implementation and development of TVET researches, publications and information management activities and initiatives of CPSC. He is also responsible in managing the news about CPSC's activities, organizational reports and other promotional materials. He has also shared his expertise as a resource person and trainer in topics such as conducting and managing social science and TVET researches, institutional strategic planning and project management techniques to TVET senior professionals, administrators and students. Some of the notable research activities he handled include the “Challenges and Issues of TVET in the CPSC Member Countries”, published in 2010; CPSC Strategic Plan 2013-2018 and 2019-2023 published in 2013 and 2018, respectively; and “In-Country Reports of the International Symposium on TVET for Poverty Alleviation” published from 2013 to 2015, among others. He has also shared his knowledge on contemporary social issues and was invited to several speaking engagements organized by the University of the Philippines – Diliman. He obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics at the University of the Philippines – Visayas, Philippines in 2009 and is currently pursuing his Masters of Arts in Sociology degree in the University of the Philippines-Diliman, Manila, Philippines. |
