Together with his adviser, Dr. Rowena Baconguis, Ph.D. student Mr. Michel Basister from the Development Studies (DVST) program under the College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf) of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) visited Malmö University (MaU) in Sweden for a research and mentorship opportunity. This also aims to enhance the partnership of both institutions in the field of Ph.D. DVST Education and Development studies.
Through the UP Office of International Linkages COOPERATE Grant program, Mr. Basister was able to work at MaU on his research topic, “Collaboration and Innovations through Lesson Study for Children with Special Educational Needs in Naga City, Philippines” from June to December 2024 under the guidance of a MaU faculty member and CPAf adjunct faculty member, Dr. Jöran Petersson.
Throughout his stay, the activities held by MaU were groundbreaking training that played a crucial role in meeting Mr. Basister’s research-related objectives: As a guest Ph.D. student, he observed the conduct of learning studies in Basic Education Schools in Malmö; conducted the organization and analysis of dissertation data using MaU’s facilities; hosted seminars on his dissertation topic; and participated in writing seminars where he was guided by his mentor and other MaU faculty on his dissertation report writing and research article publications.
“As a guest doctorate student at MaU, I’ve had the privilege of immersing myself in a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment. The university’s dedication to research, its diverse and inclusive community, and its excellent facilities have created an ideal environment for me to grow and develop as a researcher and as person as well. Thanks to UP OIL’s COOPERATE grant for this opportunity to broaden further my perspective and foster greater understanding and tolerance for diversity.” – Michel Basister, DVST student
Mentoring and Field Activities at Malmö
As adviser and mentor, Dr. Baconguis and Dr. Petersson served as massive support to this project. Ensuring mentorship and research productivity, there were several coaching sessions with Dr. Petersson to write the dissertation report and co-write publishable research articles with Mr. Basister. On the other hand, Dr. Baconguis carried out benchmarking activities with the Swedish Agricultural University and Stockholm University. She also facilitated seminars about collaboration and innovations to promote inclusive education.
Mr. Basister and his advisers already submitted their first research article for publication. They are currently working on three other research articles about collaborations and innovations in inclusive education. While the UP OIL funded the stay of Mr. Basister and Dr. Baconguis at MaU, the open-access publication costs of their articles will be shouldered by the MaU’s Department of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Society.
The global knowledge exchange and field work significantly improved Mr. Basister’s research outputs. This not only opened in-depth conversations regarding inclusive education but also aimed to fulfill resolutions in both the Philippines and Sweden ensuring that no students would be left behind in the education setting.
The collaboration between these academic institutions forged a stronger foundation for global research that benefits the students and addresses societal issues, particularly the education crisis. MaU provides exposure to a high-quality research environment and valuable education resources that serve its four key arenas; a University with Global Competence Students, a University with Research for Global Impact, a University with Global Outreach, and an Inclusive Global University. Furthermore, this partnership deepens and strengthens research collaborations, provides access to new funding schemes and new international enrollments, increases joint publication and citation rates and rankings, and makes institutions more attractive to potential candidates.
“Global engagement has always been a core value for Malmö University by the belief that with a diversity of minds, anything is possible. The university strives to enhance creative, connected, interdisciplinary, and international academic environments.” – Malmö University
This international exposure in a high-quality research environment in a European country (Sweden) provides both Mr. Basister and Dr. Baconguis with valuable opportunities such as to promote research productivity and to further broaden research output as well as networking and global connections. The knowledge and experiences they gained through this exchange not only reflect diversity but also serve as a contribution to our country’s pursuit of progress. Indeed, they demonstrated that Filipinos are capable of growth and can excel and stand out in an international arena. Overall, Mr. Basister’s and Dr. Baconguis’ international pursuit was indeed a milestone that our academic institution takes pride in.
Alyssa Louise Jesalva
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Michiko Karisa Buothttps://cpaf.uplb.edu.ph/author/mmbuot1/
