BISU-CAS Strengthens Ethical and Innovative Research at CSSPEX Held at UP Diliman

The College of Arts and Sciences of Bohol Island State University (BISU) Main Campus proudly participated in the CSSPEX 2025: Extramural Training Seminar for Social Science Teachers, held from April 24 to 26, 2025, at the Pilar Herrera Hall, Palma Hall, UP Diliman. Representing the university were College Dean Dr. Bernabe M. Mijares, Jr., along with faculty members Mr. Erven M. Noval and Mr. Michael O. Orimaco. Their presence at the event underscored BISU’s strong commitment to promoting ethical, inclusive, and innovative research and instruction in the social sciences. With the theme “Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Knowledge Production: Navigating Challenges in Social Sciences Research,” the seminar convened educators and scholars from across the country to discuss pressing issues in research practice, ethics, and technological integration.

A major highlight of the event was the keynote address by historian and professor Dr. Ma. Mercedes G. Planta, who emphasized the vital role of local knowledge, language, and history in shaping meaningful and inclusive research. For BISU, this insight affirmed the importance of contextualizing academic work within the cultural and social realities of local communities. It also reinforced the university’s current initiative to establish a Research Ethics Committee, which will serve as a guardian of integrity, justice, and cultural relevance in all research endeavors across the campus.

Equally valuable were the discussions on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in research and knowledge production. The seminar encouraged critical reflection on how AI can both assist and complicate academic work. For the BISU delegates, this offered timely guidance as the university explores policies that promote the responsible and inclusive adoption of AI in its research and instructional practices. Ensuring ethical frameworks around AI integration will allow BISU to harness technology while safeguarding human agency and diversity of thought.

The learnings from CSSPEX 2025 also support BISU’s strategic direction toward creating a Research Institute for Policy Development and Evaluation, aimed at producing research grounded in evidence, ethics, and relevance to local needs. The training significantly enriched the perspective and capacity of the faculty and administrators in attendance and reinforced BISU’s role as a forward-looking institution committed to academic excellence, social responsibility, and meaningful innovation.

(𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘌𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘕𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭, 𝘔𝘗𝘈 – 𝘊𝘈𝘚 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘺 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳)