Mariano Marcos
State University

67 studies assessed in 2026 MMSU Research Review

By Ian Paul Villanueva

To ensure high-quality and agenda-driven research outputs, the MMSU Research Directorate reviewed a total of 67 research projects during the annual Agency In-House Research Review (AIHRR) held from May 20 to 22, 2026, at the Center for Flexible Learning.

The university’s full-time and faculty researchers and expert evaluators convened for three days to assess completed and ongoing studies.

The studies were presented in two sessions and spanned five areas: Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources, Climate Change, and Environment (22); Food, Health and Wellness (10); Computer Science and Information Technology (7); Engineering and Industry (8); and Education, Science, Humanities, Culture and Arts (20).

Representing University President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., Research Director Dionisio Bucao shared how the university led the region in publications during the first quarter of the year and noted the need for the university to increase its research outputs.

“In the first quarter, MMSU leads the region in publications. That tells us something important. It shows that we are capable of producing, submitting, and sharing our work at a strong pace. But this is not where we stop. This is where we build,” said Dr. Bucao.

“Here is the challenge for all of us: double it, even triple it. Produce more studies, complete more papers, and bring more outputs to publication. Let us increase not just the number, but the reach and use of what we produce,” he added.

Serving as an important assessment mechanism of the university, the agency in-house review looked at the progress, methodologies, quality, relevance,  utilization potential, and alignment with institutional goals and funding requirements of both ongoing and completed studies.

Besides assessment, the event also serves as a platform to ensure the quality of research papers bound to be presented in external conferences or symposia and scientific fora outside the university.