Research Agenda

XU University Development Goals (XU-UDG)

Stronger Formation - The general goal is to improve the academic and non-academic programs for the formation of persons as indicated in the XU mission statement

Produce Level III, IV programs and COD, COE’s.
Improve student performance in board exams and job placement.
Improve IT and communication skills.
Develop administrative, management, and leadership skills.
Develop work-related productivity skills (competence).
Form persons imbued with Christian values and conscience.
Cultivate and deepen commitment to serve God and others.

Greater Societal Engagement - The general goal is to produce research outcomes (e.g. products and services) that advance peace and social development in Mindanao Thematic Agenda

Thematic Agenda

Food Security – Mindanao largely remains poor and hungry despite its wealth of resources; the University will ensure access to food for all families in its areas of engagement in Mindanao through empowerment of farming and fishing communities
Health - Water and sanitation are prerequisites for health and are globally recognized as necessary in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development; XU will help improve public health through preventive medicine and sustainable sanitation
Environment - The preservation and increased protection of the environment is imperative in this time of evident and felt climate change effects in Mindanao and in Cagayan de Oro; Xavier University will ensure environmental integrity through landscape management, resiliency to climate change, and reduction of waste
Governance – Engagement in governance is deemed strategic to help influence and enforce local public policies that provide the foundation for the effective and sustainable implementation of development initiatives and programs in the communities; XU will strengthen good governance and responsible citizenship through research-based outputs
Peace – Peace remains a desired state in the island of Mindanao. With the challenges to peace in many fronts, XU will facilitate the cultivation of a culture of peace by strengthening peace-building initiatives, primarily by developing the University as a hub and common ground for dialogue and resolution/transformation of conflicts, and development of peace champions within and outside the university.

Better Administration - The general goal is to improve support of the operations of the University in view of its core mission

Develop a more responsive organizational culture or climate
Integrate XU information systems.
Improve financial sustainability.
Upgrade physical and information infrastructure.
Develop new campuses and other landholdings.

National Higher Education Research Agenda (NHERA 2)

Social Sciences

Major Issues	Priority Research Areas	Suggested Approach
Families and Communities Transition	Drivers, processes and consequences of: Community transitions, labor migration, changing family structure Evolution of social institutions in response to changes in family and community structures	Descriptive research;cross-section trend research; panel/longitudinal research;
Education	Alignment of human capital development goals in school, in communities, and Philippine society; social processes and factors that shape educational policies and processes at national, community, school and individual levels; efficacy of educational process (instructional, management, policy, etc.) in the development of human capital; Social processes and dimensions of educational reforms and educational institutions	Descriptive research (including GIS mapping); cross-section trend research; panel/longitudinal research; historical research; evaluation of programs and policies; theory and model building
Disaster	Social antecedents of disaster; social determinants of vulnerability to disaster; social response (community and national levels) to disaster mitigation and adaptation; social process in relief and development responses to disaster; short-term and long-term consequences on well-being of individual and communities in disaster-stricken and/or vulnerable areas	Descriptive research (including GIS mapping); cross-section trend research; panel/longitudinal research; historical research;
ICT and social change	Description and analysis of changes in social institutions such as education, governance, church/religious organizations, financial and agricultural institution, etc.; social dimensions of adoption and utilization of ICT in individuals, organizations, and communities, social analysis of virtual communities and interactions	Descriptive research (including GIS mapping); cross-section trend research; panel/longitudinal research; historical research; evaluation of programs and policies; theory and model building

Natural Sciences

Major Issues	Priority Research Areas	Suggested Approach
Climate Change	Physical oceanography; marine coastal geology; engineering geology; volcanology; hydrology; seismology; vulnerability of biodiversity	Scenario building
Pollution	Persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, mariculture-derived pollution, vulnerability of biodiversity (priority research sites: Mindanao Sea, Bohol Sea, Southern Palawan Sea, Northern Luzon Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Sulu Sea, Straits); instrumentation (detection, analysis, robotics, atmospheric/environmental); materials science (electronics applications, catalysts, environmental remediation); nanotechnology	Multidisciplinary approach to measurement and mitigation; Programmatic approach on carrying capacity of ecosystems
Conservation	Systems biology (modelling, bioinformatics, ecology, pollution, community, ecosystems); genetics (molecular, population, evolution); biodiversity (Mindanao Sea, Bohol Sea, Southern Palawan Sea, Northern Luzon Sea, Sulawesi Sea, Sulu Sea, Straits); 3-domain scheme (morphoanatomy, physiology, and behaviour); instrumentation (atmospheric/environmental)	Baseline Study; Ecosystem-based studies
Energy	Intelligent systems; molecular simulation/modelling; materials science (alternative energy, electronic applications, catalysts, environmental remediation); natural products (biofuels); materials research (energy, fuel cells, nanomaterials, ICT/microelectronics, functional materials); greener technologies fro minerals, coal, geothermal, petroleum;	Development of clean technology; Exploration of alternative energy sources
Health	Bioassays; diagnostics; drug/cure discovery; biosensors; natural products (pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, nutraceuticals, pesticides); instrumentation (detection, analysis, robotics, medical physics)	Rapid assessment; Development of innovative cure
Food	Natural products; biochemistry; molecular biology	Exploration of new resources and more efficient production

Mindanao 2020: Peace and Development Framework Plan (for 2011-2030)

Research & Policy Agenda Themes

Themes	Priority Research Area
Economic Development	Estimating the economic and social contribution of the mineral industry in Mindanao – Mineral mapping Studies on the per-industry effect of the ASEAN Economic Integration starting 2015 (specifically agriculture and industry) Spatial Development Plan: Focusing on the Regional Growth Corridor Connectivity Impact of technology centers to Mindanao’s agriculture sector (in terms of sufficiency and farmers & fisher folk wellbeing) Extent of MSMEs contribution to the spatial growth of Mindanao Document sites suitable for mini-hydro facilities stable & reliable energy supply Impact of EPIRA in Mindanao Study the benefits of creating a Mindanao Power Corp
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation	Assessment on measuring the risk of Mindanao provinces to climate change and disaster Risk assessment of population density and movement Comparative study on the benefits of implementing the Comprehensive Land Use Planning (CLUP) among LGUs Sustainability of natural resources (Included studies: Mindanao Water Availability Study; Soil Suitability Study; Indigenous Knowledge, Systems and Practices (IKSP)-IKSP on Resource Management: Legends, Beliefs and Myths; and Technology generation from indigenous resources specifically on the field of Medicine, renewable energy, metallic products and organic farming methods to improve yields and shelf lives of produce) Estimating the economic and social contribution of the mineral industry in Mindanao Effects of mining to Mindanao water resources Conflict management and land use in mining communities Development, utilization, and commercialization of appropriate technologies to optimize responsible small scale mining Sustainability of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Profiling of Mindanao Coastal Resources Effects of mining and agriculture in Mindanao on fisheries and aquatic resources Assessment of capacities of LGUs on DRRM specifically on fisheries and aquatic resources
Human Development and Poverty Reduction	Modeling the effects of health to economy of Mindanao Mismatch of curriculum offers to the needs of key industries such as ship-building, mineral development, power and renewable energy and agriculture/agribusiness. (Higher education curriculum viz Mindanao industry needs) Assessment of 4Ps impacts in Mindanao Does poverty coexist with inequality? Evidence from the small area estimates (SAE) of poverty incidence in Mindanao
Good Governance and Anti-corruption	Study on Effectiveness of Governance Incentives and Awards (i.e. Gawad Pamana, Seal of Good Housekeeping) Study on Transparency and Accountability Mechanisms of the LGUs Effectiveness of the LGU implementation
Security, Justice and Peace	Review and implementation of conflicting laws with special attention to land laws and IPRA.