Guided by its institutional mandate and its Vision, Mission, Goal and Objectives, the CSU Research and Development Agenda was crafted. The institution’s research agenda is in consonance with the Philippine Development Plan (NDP), National Science and Technology Plan of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-NSTP), National Higher Education Research Agenda of the Commission of Higher Education (CHED-NHERA), Caraga Regional Development Plan 2010-2016, Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the regional and national priorities of government agencies such as the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH). All R&D needs stipulated in the above-mentioned plans and programs were used as inputs and the foundation for the revision to come up with the Caraga State University RDE Agenda for 2016-2020.
In parallel to the national and regional development plans, the University identified the following agenda:
R&D Program on Environmental Management & Eco-governance
RDE efforts on water shall be directed towards appropriate watershed and wetland management, effective and efficient water management, water treatment technologies and water budget studies to optimize the use of available safe water. RDE activities on the environmental and conservation, preservation and management shall focus on finding better ways of managing non-renewable natural resources (land, water, minerals, and biodiversity) for sustainable economic development. Specifically, it shall look for possible solutions to the environmental alterations resulting from climate change in order to minimize hazardous environmental effects and reduce natural and human-induced disasters/risks.
The Center for Research in Environmental Management and Eco-governance (CRÈME), Faculty of Environmental Sciences and the College of Agriculture and Agri-Industries (CAA) are the lead conveners. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Education (CEd); Information Technology and Engineering Departments; and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.
R&D Program on Mineral Resources Management & Responsible Mining
The R&D program shall focus on: socio-cultural and economic aspects of mining; mining technology; geological aspects; material science and value-adding to minerals; environmental issues on mining; basic literacy for mining communities; and science and mathematics education for would-be miners. Research projects shall be directed towards finding solutions to contamination due to mining and rehabilitation of mined-out areas to benefit humankind. Restoration of the ecosystem to support biodiversity and natural cultural heritage shall also be another focused area for research and innovation.
The Mineral Resources Management Research and Training Center (MinRes) will be the lead convener. The collaborators are the faculty-researchers from the: College of Engineering and Geo-Sciences (CEGS), College of Computing and Information Services (CCIS), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); College of Education (CEd); Environmental Sciences Department and the Agricultural Sciences Department; and CSU-Cabadbaran Campus.