Caraga State University (CSU) achieved a significant milestone this January, with 600 Scopus-indexed publications. Notably, 234 of these publications were achieved in the last two years, from January 2023 to January 2025, a clear testament to CSU’s accelerated growth and relentless pursuit of advancing research and international engagements.
The publication monitoring aligns with the administration's efforts to meet the required publication targets for State Universities and Colleges (SUC) Levelling, as set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). SUCs, including Caraga State University, are evaluated on a three-year cycle to determine their classification level. There are five SUC levels, with Level 4 being the highest currently achieved. CSU is proud to be among the 20 SUCs in the country at Level 4 and intends to retain this classification.
The next evaluation cycle is scheduled for 2026. It will cover accomplishments from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026 (or January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2025, if the university opts to follow the Calendar Year instead of the Academic Year). This timeline is based on the draft SUC Levelling document issued to the SUCs last year. The final version of the document is expected to be released in early 2025. The 234 indexed publications fall within this specified window. The university still lacks 366 publications to achieve the 600 target, hence the push of the administration this year.
What is Scopus?
Scopus-indexed publications are scholarly works, such as articles, conference papers, and books, included in the Scopus database, one of the largest repositories of peer-reviewed literature. These publications undergo rigorous peer review to meet high standards of academic quality, credibility, and global recognition. Being indexed in Scopus ensures that research is accessible to a global audience, enhances visibility, and facilitates citations. Covering a wide range of disciplines, including science, engineering, medicine, social sciences, and the arts, Scopus provides tools for tracking citations, measuring impact, and analyzing research trends.
As a benchmark for academic performance, Scopus indexing is often used by universities, funding bodies, and researchers to evaluate and recognize research excellence. For institutions like Caraga State University, achieving milestones in Scopus-indexed publications demonstrates their dedication to advancing global research and maintaining high standards of academic achievement.
Scopus-Indexed Publications: A Key Requirement for CHED-DBM Joint Circular Promotions for SUC Faculty Members
Scopus-indexed publications have become a critical requirement for faculty promotions in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) under the guidelines set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) through their Joint Circular 3 Series of 2022 (popularly known among SUCs as JC3). These publications serve as tangible evidence of academic productivity, research excellence, and global recognition, aligning with the broader goals of enhancing the quality of higher education and fostering a research-driven culture within SUCs.
In the JC3 promotion guidelines, a faculty member must have at least two publications within a three-year window (if they are the sole author) to fully meet 100% of the research requirement. This accounts for 40% of the total requirements for a Full Professor (30% and 20% for Associate and Assistant Professors), alongside other areas such as instruction, extension, and professional development.
The inclusion of Scopus-indexed publications as a requirement ensures that faculty members engage in high-quality, peer-reviewed research that meets international standards. This not only improves the academic reputation of SUCs but also contributes to addressing global challenges through research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For faculty members, producing Scopus-indexed publications offers opportunities for professional growth, recognition, and promotion to higher academic ranks, which incentivizes a stronger focus on research and innovation.
However, the requirement also poses challenges, particularly for institutions and faculty members with limited resources, funding, or access to international research networks. However, for the first time in a long time, the CSU administration extended the biggest budget so far at more than Php 2 Million in 2024 to help faculty members publish their research outputs and present at international research conferences! More than 50 papers were presented at an international conference in Fukuoka, Japan, last October 2024, which led to the eventual publication of the papers and indexing at Scopus.
For Caraga State University and other SUCs, meeting this requirement not only benefits individual faculty members but also strengthens the institution’s research profile, competitiveness, and contribution to national and global development goals.
Impact to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Scopus highlights the contributions and impact of Caraga State University on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its indexed publications.
The most significant contribution is to Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals, with 205 documents, underscoring the importance of collaboration and multi-stakeholder initiatives in CSU’s research efforts. This is followed by Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, with 75 documents, reflecting a strong focus on urban development and sustainability. Other notable contributions include Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being (54 documents) and Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation (44 documents), showcasing the university’s priorities in health, sanitation, and access to clean water. Additionally, Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production (43 documents) and Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy (38 documents) demonstrate CSU’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices and renewable energy solutions.
Moderate contributions are evident in Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (28 documents), Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth (26 documents), and Goal 4: Quality Education (24 documents), reflecting a balanced focus on innovation, economic development, and education. However, minimal contributions are observed in Goal 5: Gender Equality (2 documents), Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities (3 documents), and Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (11 documents), indicating areas where further research efforts are needed.
Environmental sustainability goals, including Goal 13: Climate Action (21 documents), Goal 14: Life Below Water (17 documents), and Goal 15: Life on Land (46 documents), also receive significant attention, demonstrating CSU’s efforts to address climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Scopus data underscores Caraga State University's growing impact on global challenges through its contributions to various SDGs. By continuing to focus on high-impact research and addressing gaps in underrepresented areas such as gender equality, reduced inequalities, and peace and justice, CSU can further align its research agenda with global priorities and enhance its role in driving solutions to critical global issues.
CSU Among Leading State Universities (Scopus-indexed Publications in 2021-2025)
CSU continues to demonstrate its commitment to research excellence, benchmarking itself against other high-performing state universities (excluding private HEIs) in the country for Scopus-indexed publications from 2021 to 2025. While the University of the Philippines (UP) System leads with an exceptional 9,604 publications, and the Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) follows with 1,036 publications, it is important to note that both institutions are autonomous universities with extensive resources and hundreds, if not over a thousand faculty members, contributing significantly to their high research outputs.
CSU, with 380 Scopus-indexed publications, performs commendably in comparison, showcasing its growing research capabilities despite having fewer faculty members and resources, with only a Php 2.7 Million annual research budget from the General Appropriations Act or GAA in 2024 (MSU-IIT at Php74 Million and UP System at Php741.78 Million GAA budget).
CSU closely follows Cebu Technological University (378 publications), the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (402 publications), and Central Luzon State University (405 publications), reflecting its determination to compete with larger institutions. Other notable contributors include Visayas State University (229 publications), Central Mindanao University (230 publications), and Batangas State University (267 publications), all of which highlight the collective efforts of state universities in advancing research and innovation.
The high outputs of UP and MSU-IIT underscore the impact of resource availability and academic autonomy on research productivity. Nonetheless, CSU’s achievements demonstrate that with strategic focus and dedication, institutions with limited resources can significantly contribute to the global academic landscape and set the stage for even greater accomplishments in the future. │ via JTDellosa/VPRIE
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