Delegates from 16 State Universities and Colleges across Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan convened at Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSUN) for a three-day Mindanao Sulu Palawan – Innovative Research and Development Consortium (MinSuPala-IRDC) training series held on June 17-19, 2026.

Co-organized by the MSUN – Office of the Research and Publication Services, the activity brought together 90 participants under the consortium, providing them with opportunities to strengthen two essential areas in research work: managing projects effectively and turning research outputs into publishable scientific papers.

The first day focused on project management, particularly in relation to the Consortium’s Phase 3 initiative on the product development and commercialization of indigenous crop and fish products. Through lectures and workshops, participants revisited the importance of clear project planning, realistic implementation strategies, monitoring mechanisms, risk management, and results-based decision-making in ensuring that research projects move from concept to measurable impact.

MSUN Chancellor Dr. Elnor C. Roa welcomed the participants and expressed support for initiatives that bring member institutions together to learn from one another and align their efforts toward shared research and development goals.

Dr. Rey Y. Capangpangan, MSUN Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Global Engagement, served as resource person during the project management sessions. He guided participants in examining their institutional and consortium work plans and identifying ways to improve accountability, adaptability, and project effectiveness.

On the succeeding days, the training shifted to scientific writing and publication, emphasizing the need for research outputs to reach wider audiences through credible and ethical publication. Sessions helped participants strengthen their manuscripts while deepening their understanding of publication ethics, authorship, journal selection, indexing systems, research visibility, publication strategies, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence tools in scholarly writing

Dr. Capangpangan and Dr. Benjoe Rey B. Visayas, Director of the Office of Global Engagement and Partnership, served as resource persons for the publication training. The sessions included peer-review activities and manuscript presentations, allowing participants to refine their papers through expert guidance and constructive exchange with fellow researchers.

By integrating project management with publication training, the activity highlighted the full research pathway—from planning and implementation to knowledge dissemination. It also reinforced the Consortium’s shared goal of helping member SUCs produce research that is well-managed, publishable, visible, and responsive to the needs of communities across Mindanao, Sulu, and Palawan.