The OVCRD Report (May 2011-April 2014).2.10.14 | Page 10

Executive Summary

report presents the progress achieved
by Office of the Vice-Chancellor for
Research and Development (OVCRD)
during the period May 2011 – April 2014 in
the execution of its mandate as the lead
office for the promotion of UP Diliman’s
R&D program. This period covers the
tenure of Prof. Benito M. Pacheco as ViceChancellor for Research and Development,
under the administration of Chancellor
Caesar A. Saloma.
report details – to paraphrase
Chancellor Saloma’s statement in his ndof- erm eport –
the OVCRD
implemented the University’s existing R&D
policies “dutifully and fairly ” and what
innovations the Office introduced for the
further development of research and
creative work in the University.
carry out its mandate, the OVCRD
adopted an approach that foregrounds
Convergence as its guiding paradigm,
Stewardship as its driving principle, and
Expansion as its enabling strategy.
is nd-of- erm eport is organized
along these three interlocking themes;
under each theme, relevant initiatives and
accomplishments of the OVCRD are
presented. rough all these initiatives and
accomplishments, the OVCRD’s consistent
ethos
to be inclusive, proactive,
and innovative.

Convergence: The Guiding Paradigm
theme of Convergence highlights
OVCRD’s advocacy for the interconnectedness
of art and science, and of the different
disciplines to each other. Convergence is an
idea that is widely accepted in principle, but
needs to be strengthened in practice. The
OVCRD, thus, launched several initiatives to
facilitate collaborations among scientists and
creative workers, and among specialists from
different fields. These initiatives include the
colloquium series,
the Professors Emeriti symposium series,
exhibitions for the National Science and
Technology Week that featured both research
and creative work outputs of UP Diliman,
multimedia campaigns, and the inventory of
research, creative work and extension units of
UP Diliman. Some of these initiatives literally
brought researchers, creative workers,
specialists, and experts together to a common
venue where they could interact with, and
learn from, each other. The other initiatives
served as platforms for enhancing awareness
and appreciation of the benefits of multi- and
cross-disciplinal collaborations for finding
solutions to pressing concerns confronting the
University and Philippine society.