BONTOC CAMPUS| The members of the Institutional Research Ethics Committee (IREC) held a meeting at the MPSU College AVR to address key institutional objectives and advance the university’s strategic goals on 10 December 2024. The gathering resulted in a full day of discussion, planning, and review.
The first agenda focused on the review of the REC Accreditation Progress Report, an initiative aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which emphasizes peace, justice, and strong institutions. During this session, the IREC members conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the institution’s current accreditation status, highlighting progress made and pinpointing areas that require improvement. They devised strategies to ensure the institution’s adherence to ethical standards, which is critical for achieving accreditation. As part of the discussion, a detailed checklist was reviewed to assess the committeeโs readiness to apply for Level 1 accreditation from the Philippine Health Research Ethics Board (PHREB), marking a significant step forward in institutional development.
The second agenda centered on strategies to improve the institutionโs performance in the World University Rankings for Impact (WURI), particularly in the ethics framework. This aligns with SDGs 4 and 16, which focus on quality education and institutional integrity. To support these efforts, the IREC members introduced a newly conceptualized program called INAYAN, an acronym embodying the core values of Integrity, Nurturing, Academe, Yielding, Accountability, and Non-maleficence. This program aims to serve as a foundation for fostering a culture of ethical research and institutional accountability. Both short-term and long-term goals were established to reflect the programโs principles, with seven planned activities and corresponding sub-activities meticulously designed to ensure the successful implementation and attainment of its objectives.
Lastly, the IREC members conducted a thorough review of 36 undergraduate research projects and one faculty research. These reviews ensured that all research adhered to institutional ethical standards and contributed meaningfully to academic excellence and societal impact. The meeting concluded with a clear roadmap for advancing accreditation efforts, enhancing the institutionโs global impact rankings, and improving the quality and ethical accuracy of research outputs.#
