Saint Mary’s University was well-represented by six faculty members who contributed valuable insights during the International Conference on Research, Innovation, and Investment (ICRII) on September 16-17, 2024, at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Among them was Dr. Darwin Don M. Dacles, whose research titled “Body Image Conceptions of Young Professionals and the Associative Dynamics of their Self-Concept, Self-Optimism, and Self-Outcomes” earned the prestigious Best Paper Award in the track for Language and Communication, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Other SMU faculty presenters included Dr. Elsa L. Cajucom, Mr. Samuel Damayon, Dr. Kenneth L. Maslang, Dr. Felipe Nantes Jr., and Dr. Harrison T. Villanueva, all of whom showcased research that highlighted the university’s strong commitment to advancing knowledge and innovation.

The event was sponsored by the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) and featured various sessions to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. Participants had the opportunity to engage in dynamic discussions, network with industry leaders, and explore avenues for publishing their research in the esteemed Mindanao Journal of Science and Technology (MJST), a scientific journal by USTP and indexed by Scopus and Clarivate Analytics.

Written by: Dr. Elsa L. Cajucom, Director CNS