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Four distinguished faculty members from the Graduate School of Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) proudly represented the university at the 2025 Asian-GRAduate Studies Summit (A-GRASS), held from May 21 to 24 at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), Vietnam. Organized by the Asia Pacific Consortium of Researchers and Educators (APCORE), A-GRASS 2025 brought together academic leaders, researchers, and graduate education experts from across the Asia-Pacific and beyond—including India, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Nigeria. The summit served as a dynamic platform for engaging in meaningful dialogues on sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration, under the theme: “Bridging Knowledge to Action: Transformative Graduate Education and Research for a Sustainable Asia.” Representing NwSSU at the summit were faculty members of the Graduate School: Dr. Ramil S. Catamora, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Program Chair of the Master of Arts in Mathematics Education and Master of Engineering Management; Dr. Rolyn A. Catamora, Quality Assurance Director and Program Chair of the Master of Arts in Business Administration; Avin Carl V. Cruzada, faculty of the Master of Arts in Education (MAED) program and Creative Works Director; and Engr. Christian Cabral, faculty of the Master of Arts in Mathematics Education (MAME) program and Graduate School Quality Assurance Coordinator. “We are serious in our commitment to shaping a more responsive and relevant graduate education—one that truly makes an impact beyond the classroom. That is why we sent our faculty to A-GRASS 2025 in Vietnam. Their presence not only represents NwSSU but also reflects our shared desire to grow, learn from others, and contribute to building a more sustainable and connected academic community,” said Dr. Eliza V. Gamusa, Dean of the Graduate School.

In a significant step towards promoting sustainable development and community empowerment, Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) and Bamboo Impact OPC, Inc. have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) at Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City. The partnership aims to conduct a Training-Workshop on High Impact Extension Projects with Field Exposures for the Graduate School Faculty. Key Objectives of the Partnership – Enhance Extension Services: Boost the extension services feats of the NwSSU Graduate School – Uplift Marginalized Communities: Improve the conditions of marginalized sectors in communities surrounding the university – Capacity Building: Equip graduate school faculty with skills and knowledge to design and implement high-impact projects The MOA signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Rhio C. Dimakiling, representing NwSSU President Dr. Benjamin L. Pecayo, and Mr. Redem D. Tingzon, who facilitated the activity. Bamboo Impact Lab was represented by Dr. Anneth Singh and Dr. Elmer Soriano. This partnership is a testament to NwSSU’s commitment to promoting sustainable development and community engagement. By working together, NwSSU and Bamboo Impact OPC, Inc. aim to create positive change in the lives of marginalized communities and contribute to the university’s extension services goals. Northwest Samar State University is a public university governed by the government in the Philippines, located in Calbayog, with an extension campus in San Jorge, Samar. The university is mandated to provide advanced education, higher technological, and professional instruction in various fields. While specific details about Bamboo Impact OPC are limited, the organization’s focus on bamboo-related initiatives aligns with the provincial government’s efforts to promote sustainable practices and combat climate change through bamboo planting.

May 14, 2025 – To uphold academic integrity and promote a culture of research excellence, the Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU) Graduate School held its Public Research Presentation at the 4th Floor of the Administration Building, in full compliance with CHED Memorandum Order No. 15, s. 2019, “Policies, Standards, and Guidelines for Graduate Programs.” The event gathered graduate students, faculty members, academic administrators, and an esteemed panel of evaluators to witness the formal presentation of approved theses – an institutional requirement for the completion of graduate programs. As stipulated by CHED, graduate students are mandated to produce a major scholarly output which must be publicly presented before its eventual publication in the university or peer-reviewed journal. The program commenced with a rationale and welcome message from Dr. Jannel C. Alviola, Doctor of Philosophy major in Educational Administration (PhDEA) Program Chair, who emphasized the crucial role of research in addressing systemic societal challenges. University President Dr. Benjamin L. Pecayo followed with a message of support, underscoring the importance of integrating advanced academic research into institutional progress, innovation, and sustainable development. Doctoral candidates presented their dissertations before an esteemed panel comprising Dr. Edelyn O. Echapare, Director of the Environmental Sustainability Research and Development Center of Samar State University; Ms. Galina V. Panela, Senior Education Program Specialist of SGOD-Planning and Research Section of the DepEd Schools Division of Calbayog City; and Charmaine C. Perito, Program Producer and Announcer I at the Bureau of Broadcast Services (Radyo Pilipinas Calbayog). The panelists provided insightful critiques and posed thought-provoking questions to ensure research alignment with academic standards and contemporary needs. In recognition of their contributions, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Ramil S. Catamora and Graduate School Dean Dr. Eliza V. Gamusa presented certificates of appreciation to the panelists and research presenters. In his closing remarks, Dr. Catamora emphasized the Graduate School’s commitment to nurturing adaptive innovators through evidence-based research. This event reiterates NwSSU’s dedication to research excellence, reinforcing the university’s mission to generate transformative innovations and scholarly outputs aligned with both regional and national development goals.

In a four-day intensive workshop held from May 13 to 16, 2025, Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU), through its Innovation Office, empowered local innovators and MSMEs with critical knowledge in intellectual property through the IP Activity Writeshop: Patent Search and Drafting 2025 for MSMEs. The capacity-building event, held at the university’s Business Development Center, convened aspiring patent holders from NwSSU’s various departments to delve into the foundations of patent documentation and protection – an essential step toward commercializing innovation and safeguarding original ideas. In his opening remarks, Dr. Ramil S. Catamora emphasized the growing need for inventors to understand intellectual property landscape, especially in the context of local enterprise development and academic research. Throughout the writeshop, subject matter experts from the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) led hands-on sessions, including patent search, claim drafting, specification writing, and formatting of technical drawings. Afternoon sessions also included an open forum and evaluation following the workshops lead by the guest speakers. Mr. Romeo Jason L.  Padulla, IP Specialist from IPOPHL, opened the series with in-depth discussions on patent search strategies and interpreting International Patent Classification (IPC) codes. Succeeding sessions were conducted by Engr. Eric C. Paden, Assistant Division Chief of the IPOPHL Regional Operations Division, who guided participants through the technical processes of claim drafting, specification writing, and patent drawing standards. The writeshop concluded with closing remarks from Ervin L. Rodriguez, Director of the Innovation Office, who highlighted the University’s commitment to nurturing innovation and transforming research outputs into protected, impactful technologies. With this initiative, NwSSU reinforces its role as a catalyst for sustainable development and inclusive innovation in the region.

Credits to NwSSU Research, Innovation and Extension Office Northwest Samar State University, together with Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakhon, will be hosting the 2nd International Conference on Resource Management and Governance (RMUTCON 2025 Special Session) on 22-24 July 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand. Do you want to present your paper? You may register and submit your Abstract through this form, or scan the QR code below, until 15 June 2025: https://forms.gle/HMKgm88a6A7nY3Z77(file name format: 2ICRMG-Last Name-First Name)