The Colombo Plan Staff College (CPSC) in collaboration with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Philippines, conducted the In-Country Program for the Philippines on Research Methodology for TVET Leaders and Teachers from March 13-17, 2023. The program was conducted online via Zoom, and was participated by 30 instructors, administrators, and teachers from various TESDA provincial technical centers and colleges all over the country. The program design was crafted to give light in understanding the fundamentals of research in TVET. This will enable participants to gain useful tools in writing their own action plan - an effective scientific research proposal in TVET.
The program was jointly supervised by CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe and TESDA Director General, Atty. Danilo P. Cruz; and was facilitated by CPSC Governing Board-Engaged Faculty Consultant and Program Coordinator and Resource Person, Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen. Ms. Carmelita Corbito, Chief of Human Resource Management Division in TESDA, served as the local coordinator together with her team in the TESDA Development Institute (TDI). The theme papers were delivered by external TVET experts: Associate Professor Dr. Imran Mohd. Ibrahim, Faculty of Electronics and Computer Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia, Melaka, Malaysia; and Asst. Prof. Jeremaiah Opiniano, PhD, Director, Research Center for Social Sciences and Education, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines.
The opening program was conducted on March 13, 2023 and was attended by key officials from CPSC and TESDA. CPSC Director General Prof. G.L.D. WIckramasinghe welcomed the participants and encouraged the attending Philippine TVET trainers to produce more quality research for the development and sustainability of Philippine TVET system in the future. Likewise, a video message from the TESDA Director General, Atty. Danilo P. Cruz was shown. In the video, he expressed his sincere gratitude to CPSC for its continued support to TESDA to involve them in many of its current programs. The participants were also briefed through video presentations of CPSC and TESDA during the opening ceremony.
Screenshots of the resource persons delivering their theme papers
During the five-day training, key theme papers were presented that focused on the research methodology: Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen explained the fundamentals of research: parts of a research proposal, how to perform a literature review and research planning. Dr. Jeremaiah Opiniano and Dr. Imran Mohd. Ibrahim’s lectures tackled the difference between doing a research methodology in engineering and non-engineering fields. The K-Chart method, as a research methodology was also introduced by A Dr. Imran Mohd. Ibrahim.They also guided the participants on the basics of publication planning and basic result and analysis tools in scientific research.
Workshops and activities were also facilitated to support the delivery of lectures by the resource persons. At the end of the program, the participants were able to prepare a basic scientific proposal framework and were able to present some of their drafted research proposals. The facilitators gave their critiques and suggestions on how the presented proposals can be improved.
During the closing program on March 17, 2023, some of the participants shared their learnings and reflections throughout the five-day training. Program Coordinator Dr. Kesavan Ulaganathen and Resource Person Dr. Imran Mohd. Ibrahim delivered the summary of the program and the vote of thanks. The closing remarks were delivered by Engr. Dr. Mian Khuram Ahsan, CPSC Senior Faculty Specialist, and Dir. Sonia Lipiso, Director of Administrative Services, TESDA. The participants were also briefed through a video presentation about the Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC), CPSC’s accreditation arm for TVET institutes.
Screenshot of the participants with CPSC Director General, Prof. G.L.D. Wickramasinghe
