OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND EXTENSION SERVICES AGENDA
AY 2016- 2022

Introduction

Research and extension have always been considered as inherent functions of Benguet State University even when it operated only as a farm school in the 1920s. Back then, students were included with the love of scientific inquiry and ingrained with the commitment to serve their communities well, not being only excellent examples of a what a successful farmer should be; but also by persisting in carrying out genuine agricultural development in the countryside (REMO, 2015).

As a chartered institution in 1971, Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC) was mandated to do research and extension, in addition to instruction as trilogy of functions. A new organizational structure was adopted which included the Department of Experiment Station. The organizational structure was revised in 1977 thus, creating the Research and Experiment Station, and the Extension and Continuing Education Division. In 1984, a new governance schema of the College created the Office of the Vice President for Research and Development Support Services.

With the conversion of the College into Benguet State University (BSU) in 1986, R and E programs were placed under the Office of the Vice President for Research and Extension (OVPRE). The move enabled the University‘s R and E programs to be more systematic and relevant to the needs of the University and to the region as well.

Presently, the OVPRE supervises the activities of the Office of Research Services, the Office of Extension Services, and the different Research Centers/ Institutes. The OVPRE also coordinates with the Highland Agriculture, Aquatic Resources Research and Development Consortium (HARRDEC), a consortium of research, extension and development agencies in the Cordillera Administrative Region which is based in BSU. Also, the University is a consortium member of the Cordillera Regional Health and Development Consortium under the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology.

CN Research and Extension Agenda

The College of Nursing is committed to educating and training globally- competent and service- oriented nurses. It aims to provide service that corresponds with the evolving needs of times. The College places research as priority area as it plays a vital role in actualization of its commitment.

The research agenda has been crafted with the purpose of facilitating the research endeavours in the College. It intends to provide the constituents- faculty, staff and students, with clear statements of the College research thrusts, areas, programs and strategies. This research agenda shall be used as basis for consistent and appropriate decision- making of all research endeavours that relate to the programs and services that the College offers. Moreover, the research agenda shall provide foundation for the operation plan of the College Research and Extension Unit.

All College administrators, faculty members, researchers, staff, undergraduate students, and partners are expected to refer to this Research Agenda for any research- related concerns. All stakeholders are therefore urged to familiarize themselves with the information contained in this Research Agenda.

GENERAL PROVISION
Along the vision, mission, and goals of the University, the College of Nursing takes it mandate from the charter of the university (PD 2010), which states that the University shall provide research, extension, agribusiness and advanced studies and progressive leadership in its fields of specialization. In line with this mandate, the College is in the process of strengthening the research and extension units.

The College of Nursing of Benguet State University is one of the top nursing schools in the Philippines (PRC, 2016), and excellent in research relevant to quality nursing education, and practice in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

To make the College responsive to the demands of a changing society, particularly of health needs of the populace, and the research for national identity and quality nursing education, the College should have built- in mechanism on a continuous self- assessment of its unit through research and extension service capabilities and program thrusts.

The aim of the Research and Extension Unit of the College of Nursing focuses on promoting and improving the health of individual, families and communities, and develops the science to help people strengthen the quality of their lives in the Cordillera Administrative Region. Specifically, the Unit address the following five (5) objectives:
1. Promote innovation and developing young nurse scientist of the 21st century.
2. Supports and conducts basic and applied research on education, nursing, health and illness.
3. Develop appropriate technologies and outputs in nursing.
4. Extends activities and programs encompasses health and well- being of individuals, families and communities.
5. Establish and strengthen linkages/ partnership in furthering research and extension endeavors of the College.

The research agenda anchored in the provisions, the Regional Unified Health Research Agenda (RUHRA) 2017- 2019 of the Cordillera Regional Health Research and Development Consortium, Sustainable Development Goals and Research and Extension Manual of Operations (REMO, 2015).

1. Research Agenda

a. Food Security and Poverty Reduction Programs

1. Mitigating the impact of chemicals on human health and the environment
2. Ensuring the effectiveness and efficiency of S and T interventions
3. Food safety
4. Dietary status assessments
5. Development and evaluation of nutrition education and communication strategies and programs

b. Sustainable Development Programs

1. Climate change and its impacts to health
2. Sustainable management of environment and health
3. Environment and sanitation
4. Urban health and sanitation

c. Family (Maternal, Paternal and Child) Health Programs

1. Family health programs
2. Responsible parenthood
3. Reproductive health
3.1 Teenage pregnancy
3.2 Reproductive diseases

d. Gender and Development Programs

1. Gender and health
2. Gender mainstreaming
3. GAD in curriculum development 
4. Time use studies
5. Women studies
6. Policy on GAD
7. Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices (IKSP)

e. Health Technology Development Programs 

1. Information and communication technology for health
2. Nursing informatics and applications
3. Development of Digital health technology
4. Drug Discovery and Development
4.1 Ethnopharmacology

f. Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Programs

1. Assessment of service delivery and referral during disaster
2. Individual, family and community resilience
3. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices on disaster
4. Disaster preparedness

g. Curriculum and Development Programs

1. Curriculum assessment, development and enhancement
2. Application of Information and communication technologies in teaching and learning model building
3. Policy- oriented studies and advocacy
4. Teaching competencies and relevance
5. Tracer study

h. Health and Nursing Concerns Programs

1. Health promotion
2. Communicable diseases
3. Substance abuse
4. HIV/ AIDS
5. Farmer’s health and well- being
6. Non- communicable diseases
4.1 Lifestyle Related Diseases
4.2 Mental health 
7. Occupational health and safety
8. Health service management studies
8.1 Impact/ evaluation studies on health programs

2. Extension Agenda
The Seven (7) point Extension agenda is guided by the University’s goal of providing quality and client responsive research and extension services. Anchored to the HERALDS, each letter stands for every thematic area as follows:

a. Holistic entrepreneurship and livelihood services
b. Education and information trading
c Responsive technology promotion and rural advisory services
d. Advocacy and policy support
e. Linkage and partnership
f. Development delivery support and training services
g. Social and resiliency services

College of Nursing Extension Services Agenda and Programs 

1. Trainings 
1.1 First- aid and Basic Life Support Training
1.2 Research Lecture series
1.3 Others (e.g, continuing education programs)

2. Community outreach
2.1 Medical, surgical, dental missions
2.2 Health promotion and prevention activities
2.3 Non- Communicable Diseases Extension Pogram
2.3 Others (e.g, Bigay Saya)

3. Local and International Linkage/partnership 
3.1 Zuellig and Department of Health- Cordillera Administrative Region 
3.2 Provincial Government of Benguet and Benguet General Hospital
3.3 Philippine Red Cross- Benguet Chapter
3.4 Others (e.g, academic partnerships)

4. Reproductive health among young and adults
4.1 Adivayan Youth Health Center
4.2 Maternal and Child Health program
4.2 Information, education, and communication activities
4.3 Others (e.g, membership as TWG of AHYD - Cordillera Region, and Regional Implementation Team of RPRH- DOH and Commission on Population and Development)

5. Health and Nursing Advocacies that are issue based
5.1. Involvement with non- government organization activities
5.2 Gender and development programs
5.3 Health and nursing policy analysis, formulation and participation