Research

As the national university, we champion and support innovative research that addresses the country’s most pressing challenges.

24 Oct 2025

A new approach to volunteerism encourages schools to treat volunteer activities as long-term commitments

This research explored the motivations of students as a basis for deeper and more meaningful engagement among educational institutions in...

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23 Oct 2025

Gay and bisexual teachers in rural schools need clear policies that protect LGBT educators

This research explored the experiences of gay and bisexual teachers working in rural schools in the Philippines. It involved interviews...

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22 Oct 2025

Fishing communities in Taliptip, Bulakan face risks from natural hazards and the New Manila International Airport project

The New Manila International Airport (NMIA), currently under construction in Taliptip, Bulakan along the shores of Manila Bay, is intended...

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21 Oct 2025

Advanced optical correlation and interferometry techniques can enhance our understanding of earthquake hazards

In the Philippines, studying earthquakes usually involves using techniques like interferometry, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), waveform modeling, and field...

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17 Oct 2025

Researchers build a portable, low-cost reflectance sensor for crop health monitoring

Precision agriculture is improving agricultural processes. Various sensors have been developed, such as spectral reflectance and transmittance sensors, multispectral canopy...

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16 Oct 2025

There is a deep connection between a person’s belief and the evidence that supports it

This paper presents a way to define and test whether someone is justified in holding a belief, using an example...

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15 Oct 2025

Neurosurgery residents outperform ChatGPT in answering board examination-like questions

Large language models such as ChatGPT have been used in different fields of medical education. This study aimed to review...

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13 Oct 2025

Those who start smoking at a younger age are likely to become more frequent and heavier smokers later in life

Understanding the relationship between age at smoking initiation and later smoking intensity is crucial for assessing future health consequences of...

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08 Oct 2025

Study finds significant gaps in menstrual hygiene management across six global cities, including Manila

The study “Exploring the Availability and Accessibility of Menstrual Friendly Public Toilets (MFPTs) in Urban Spaces” examines public toilet facilities...

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24 Sep 2025

Supplements can enhance the textural and nutritional qualities of rice

This study looked at how adding supplements like rapeseed oil, dried wasabi powder, and dried chili pepper powder changes the...

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23 Sep 2025

Economic reasons are a significant factor why microentrepreneurs remain in flood-prone areas

The number of establishments (89% of the total establishments in the Philippines) and people employed by micro enterprises makes it...

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04 Sep 2025

What does queerness mean to a young Filipino student in another Southeast Asian country? A novel’s chapter explores it.

In the chapter “New Boy”, Pau, a Filipino exchange student from Tagum City, attends classes in photography and Thai arts...

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Research

This research explored the motivations of students as a basis for deeper and more meaningful engagement among educational institutions in incorporating social justice into classrooms. While some courses encourage hands-on learning and partnerships with the community through service-learning projects, student participation usually ends when the course does. The study looked into why students volunteer and what keeps them engaged over time, involving discussions with 33 participants from high school, college, and graduate programs. The analysis showed that high school students are mainly motivated by civic duty, while college students are driven by civic duty and career development, and graduate students are influenced by all three factors. The study introduces the 3Cs Model of Volunteerism, which encourages schools to view volunteer activities as sustained commitments rather than one-off events. By understanding what motivates students in their volunteer efforts, schools can better support and engage them, ultimately fostering a stronger sense of social justice and community involvement.

Specifically, this study contributes to education through:

  1. A deepened understanding of volunteer motivations. By factoring in student motivations for volunteerism—such as civic engagement, career development, and competence—the research highlights the evolving components that influence volunteer behavior from high school through graduate levels.
  2. Promotion of sustained student engagement. The proposed model promotes continuity in volunteer efforts, which is essential for achieving meaningful social impact but is often overlooked in short-term service-learning courses.
  3. Practical implications for curriculum design. The insights from students offer educational institutions actionable steps to integrate strategies that foster long-term civic engagement and personal growth, moving beyond superficial approaches to social justice education.

Author: Edwin B. Estrera (University of the Philippines Cebu)

Read the full paper: https://iafor.org/journal/iafor-journal-of-education/volume-12-Issue-3/article-4/