August 25, 2026 — the Ateneo de Naga University College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS), in collaboration with the Office for Research and Creative Endeavors, conducted a faculty retooling activity entitled “Pathways to Global Research Impact.”

Held at the Bro. Richard Fernando Hall, the activity featured Dr. Aristotle T. Ubando, Assistant Dean for Research and Advanced Studies at the Gokongwei College of Engineering of De La Salle University and recognized among the world’s top 2% of researchers based on composite metrics compiled by Stanford University and Elsevier statisticians from 2021 to the present. Dr. Ubando was introduced by CHSS Dean and lead organizer, Dr. Ma. Filipinas H. Bana. The activity opened with a welcome message from Dr. Digna Mac Paner-Alba, AdNU Vice President for Higher Education, and concluded with closing remarks from Dr. Margarita F. Fajardo, Dean of the Office for Research and Creative Endeavors. Faculty, staff, and students from various university units attended the academic gathering.

The activity aimed to strengthen AdNU’s research culture by exploring pathways to increased publication productivity and research impact, developing sustainable research programs, and fostering research leadership, collaboration, and internationalization. It also sought to encourage interdisciplinary partnerships across the University and inspire faculty members to pursue research excellence in their respective disciplines.

In his presentation, Dr. Ubando emphasized the need for the Philippines to strengthen its scholarly research outputs, underscoring the role of universities as institutions of knowledge creation that can generate meaningful impact on society. He expressed hope that the discussion would inspire future students and members of the academic community to create new knowledge through research and contribute to a stronger culture of research excellence.