The University Learning Resource Center (ULRC) and University Research Center (URC) of Saint Mary’s University (SMU) successfully conducted the first session of Philippine Research Acceleration Program (PRAP). The first session was Workshop on Excellence in Writing and Publishing for Researchers held last July 6, 2026, via Zoom. The activity brought together faculty researchers in an effort to strengthen their competencies in scholarly writing and publication while reinforcing the University’s commitment to research excellence.

The program opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Melanie G. Sarmiento, Director of the University Research Center, who emphasized the role of research publications in advancing institutional quality and sustainability. She reiterated  that high-quality scholarly outputs are not only essential for compliance with the standards of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) but also contribute significantly to Saint Mary’s University’s global visibility, research reputation, and international collaborations.

Dr. Sarmiento likewise expressed her sincere appreciation to Mr. David Cabonero,  ULRC Director and the CE Logic Team for organizing the Philippine Research Acceleration Program and making the workshop accessible to SMU researchers. She also extended her gratitude to the resource speaker, Mr. Joshua Benjamin, for sharing his expertise and guiding participants toward excellence in research writing and publishing.

The workshop featured Mr. Joshua Benjamin, representative of the Philippine Research Acceleration Program (PRAP), who provided practical strategies for developing publishable research manuscripts. His discussion covered key aspects of scholarly publishing, including selecting appropriate journals, meeting publication standards, improving manuscript quality, increasing research visibility, and navigating the publication process. 

Through this initiative, Saint Mary’s University continues to empower its faculty researchers with the knowledge and skills necessary to produce impactful research that contributes to national development and the global academic community. The workshop reflects the University’s unwavering commitment to cultivating a vibrant research culture and advancing academic excellence through quality scholarly publications.