From May 21-22, 2024, the BS Geology Program of the College of Science at Partido State University collaborated with GEoInnovative Specialist Inc. (GSI) to organize a two-day seminar and practical equipment training in Geotechnical Engineering. The event took place at the RDE Training Hall and PSU Covered Court, catering to students from the BS Geology and BS Civil Engineering programs.

The Geology and Civil Engineering students were engaged in a two-day event that featured cutting-edge lectures on Geotechnical Engineering, emphasizing its importance in shaping the built environment and infrastructure development. The first day consisted of simultaneous lectures and job interviews. Engr. Aldwin F. Montealto delivered a lecture titled "Hidden Ground Beneath Our Feet: A Geotechnical Engineer's Journey," providing insights into the world of geotechnical engineering, including soil mechanics, foundation design, and slope instability, which are crucial for construction projects. He also shared his personal journey as a geotechnical engineer, and students had the opportunity to share their key takeaways from the lecture.

On the second day, Engr. Allen D.G. Dela Cruz introduced GSI and its various laboratories and testing services in his talk. This was followed by another job interview session and hands-on training with the equipment.

GeoInnovative Specialist Inc. (GSI) is a Filipino-owned company built in 2017 from an innovative group of specialists whose expertise is in the field of Geology and Engineering and its practical applications such as Geotechnics, Geophysics, and Design. The team aims to provide sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions to different stages of development for various industries such as construction, hydrology, energy, and more. Initially, the said company served as a general contractor providing Geotechnical Investigation Works involving drilling, in situ testing, materials testing, and consultancy then later, the company diversified as its capabilities grew to cater to additional industrial private and public projects. The company is currently actively engaged in feasibility studies and civil engineering works.

The main highlight of the event was the hands-on equipment demonstration, during which student participants were divided into three groups. These groups rotated through different stations, namely Station 1: Dynamic Cone Penetration Test, Station 2: Ground Penetrating Radar, and Station 3: Rebound Hammer and Pocket Penetrometer. These hands-on demonstrations provided students with valuable opportunities to observe and interact with the actual tools and instruments used in geotechnical engineering. By doing so, they were able to gain a deeper understanding of the equipment's principles, functionality, and limitations. These practical experiences are crucial in preparing students for the challenges they may encounter in their future geotechnical engineering careers.

Comprising the GSI Team were Engr. Allen Dela Cruz-Civil Engineer, Engr. Aldwin Montealto-Civil Engineer; Mr. Martjeremiah Romerde-Geologist; Mr. Christian Delima-HR staff; and Mr. Arnold del Fierro-Staff

Also in attendance at the event included Dr. Michael A. Clores, the Vice President for Academic Affairs; Ms. Leah Erica B. Ignao, the Dean of the College of Science; Engr. Emelina R. Padayao, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computational Science; and Mr. Joemar C. Sedeño, the Department Chair of the BS Geology Program.

Partido State University recently held a momentous oath-taking ceremony and issuance of appointment to honor the accomplishments of 56 faculty members who have been reclassified through DBM-CHED JC No. 03, s. 2022 from Instructor II to Associate Professor V. The ceremony took place on May 10, 2024, and was led by Dr. Arnel B. Zarcedo, SUC President III. 

These faculty members have demonstrated exceptional dedication and perseverance in enhancing their qualifications as valuable members of the Partido State University community. Their hard work has been duly recognized and rewarded by the evaluation bodies of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). The Institutional Evaluation Committee, headed by former chairperson Dr. Erlinda M. Basilla, who also served as the former VP for Academic Affairs and current VPAA Dr. Michael A. Clores, initiated the assessments and appraisals in August 2023.

The said ceremony was graced by Prof. Patricia M. Candelaria, the VP for Research, Extension, and Knowledge Management, Prof. Charlie V. Balagtas, the VP for Administration and Finance, Prof. Rico D. Saballegue, the President of the FFAPARSU (Faculty and Employees Association of Partido State University), and Prof. Margarita M. Lanciso, the HRMO (Human Resource Management Officer).

Partido State University takes great pride in the achievements of these 56 reclassed faculty members, whose unwavering commitment and hard work have contributed to the university's academic excellence. By celebrating their accomplishments, the university emphasizes its dedication to fostering a supportive and conducive environment for the continuous growth and development of its faculty members.

To educate and expose the community to the relevant knowledge and skills in ethnobotanical studies, the Partido State University, in collaboration with Sorsogon State University, conducted the Lecture-cum-Workshop on Ethnobotanical Studies: Ties between Humans and Plants as a Step towards Conservation and Restoration Strategies on April 25-27, 2024 at Partido State University College of Sustainable Communities and Ecosystems (Caramoan Campus).

Forty-nine participants, composed of students and teachers from secondary and tertiary educational institutions in the municipality of Caramoan, attended the said event. The three-day lecture-cum-workshop was conducted to provide participants with general and specific knowledge of the concept, principles, history, importance, types, application, research trends, and whatnots of ethnobotanical studies and their roles in conservation strategies.   

Dr. Georgie Hart-Fredeluces (International Visiting Professor from Idaho State University, USA), together with Dr. Richard D. Dumilag (Professor) and Mr. Clister Panganiban and Jomari Dig (University Research Associates) from Sorsogon State University facilitated the event filled with lectures, workshops, and fieldwork.

Dr. Hart-Fredeluces gave a lecture on the promise of ethnobotany: recognition of local knowledge, social justice, and sustainability. She discussed the type of ethnobotanical research, research ethics, ethnotaxa and classification, plant use, and sustainability. She also discussed the basics of ethnobotanical research, where she provided examples, purposes, and theories widely used in these fields of study. 

Dr. Dumilag shared his individualized experiences of becoming a phycologist. He discussed a decade of his life as a seaweed taxonomist and the different institutions he's come from. He emphasized that his being a phycologist turned him into an evolutionist, an ecologist, a conservationist, and an ethnobotanist, and he provided technical advice to policy-makers.

A workshop on applying qualitative and quantitative methods to understand human relationships with plants was also provided by Dr. Hart-Fredeluces. It consisted of lecture interviews, surveys and use-value, class practice, and research team formation and research planning. A live mock interview was conducted showing the participants how to respond to different scenarios that they can encounter during their data-gathering activity.

The two distinguished resource speakers facilitated the fieldwork held on the second day at Sitio Francisco, Barangay Bacgong, Caramoan, Camarines Sur. They conducted a pre-fieldwork lecture, highlighting the needed information to be collected by the students, including their topic of interest, research question, data collection method, data analysis, results, implications, and recommendations. Both of them led the conversation with the locals and facilitated the data gathering of the participants.

Pangantihon and Dig, URAs from SorSU, led the workshop on herbarium preparation on the third day. Participants also presented the results gathered from the fieldwork, where the resource speakers provided constructive questions and comments. Philippine flora cards with dedication were given to all participants as a token and souvenir for the three-day event. 

The lecture-cum-workshop is the first of many research, extension, and collaboration endeavors of ParSU and SorSU, aiming to uplift the economic status and promote sustainable development in the Bicol Region.

The event is in line with the goals of the Futures Thinking Program and Initiatives of the University, which is to "promote sustainable behaviors among people, with these desired behaviors strategically integrated with science, culture, education, technology and the arts through capacity building."

In an effort to promote academic collaboration and foster valuable research partnerships, Dr. Teruyuki Shinbo from Kochi University, alongside Dr. Emma L. Ballad from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Aquatic Resources, and Ms. Joela Mizchelle A. Dela Vega-Dacillo, a faculty member of ParSU and a Ph.D. candidate at Kochi University, paid a courtesy visit to Partido State University on March 20, 2024. This visit aligns with the ongoing research collaboration between Partido State University, under the leadership of former university president Dr. Raul G. Bradecina, and Kochi University. Present during the visit were the VP for Academic Affairs, VP for Administration and Finance, Deans/Units Heads, and Center Directors. 

During the visit, Dr. Shinbo expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended by Partido State University and conveyed Kochi University's dedication to enhancing collaboration through joint research. 

In line with this, initial fieldwork will be conducted in Camarines Sur and Albay as part of a study examining the cooperative efforts of local communities in conserving coastal ecosystems through marine protected areas and the driving factors behind such initiatives. This research collaboration, spanning five days, will serve as a catalyst for Dr. Shinbo and his two former mentees, Dr. Bradecina and Dr. Emma, together with Ms. Dacillo to finalize a three-year study on establishing a research program focused on environmental economics and sustainable utilization of coastal resources.  Additionally, as part of its objective to advance the understanding of the human dimension in this study, exploration will be conducted to examine the influence of ethnicity, specifically among small-scale fishermen, on the economic and sustainable development of both the local community and society at large.

It is worth noting that the relationship between PSU and Kochi University has been established through years of knowledge sharing and cooperation, as evidenced by the annual visits of Kochi University faculty to PSU. Ms. Joela Mizchelle DelaVega–Dacillo is currently taking her Ph.D. in Environmental Economics at Kochi University, Japan since June 2021 sponsored by the Japanese government Monbukagakusho program.  Over the years, Kochi University has been supportive of Partido State University’s focus on instruction, research, and scholarly collaboration as evidenced by the conduct of its faculty development and student exchange programs since 2005.

With Dr. Bradecina as one of the scientific advisors for the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Aquatic Resources and Dr. Emma who is affiliated with the agency, this study would also generate information on protecting marine resources for sustainability as well as produce products that contribute to the management of marine fisheries resource. Also discussed during this visit, was the plan to conduct mentoring activities of Kochi Alumni to PSU faculty researchers and the conduct of pilot testing of engagements for PSU faculty and come up with a compilation of a well-thought-out thematic area for coastal management. These initiatives are designed to ensure the sustained research productivity of the faculty and contribute to the advancement of coastal management practices. Consequently, both institutions will continue to work together, leveraging their respective strengths, to make a positive impact through cutting-edge research and evidence-based practices. Moreover, the visit underscores Partido State University's strategic response to CHED's call for state universities and colleges to internationalize.