Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation (MSIRC)

According to BOR Resolution No. 368, s. 2024, the Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation (MSIRC) is tasked with several key functions and roles. It is dedicated to supporting the research and creative endeavors of university faculty, staff, and students across various disciplines. The institute actively participates in formulating policies governing research activities on campus, which includes setting research priorities, approving strategic plans, and ensuring alignment with the university’s Research and Development (R&D) Agenda. Furthermore, it is responsible for ensuring the legitimacy of conferences and assessing the quality of research papers submitted by faculty, staff, and students before they are endorsed to the Office of the President through the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, Extension, and Development (OVCRED) and/or the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA).

Additionally, the institute reviews research-related requests from faculty, staff, and students to ensure compliance with university research standards and guidelines prior to endorsement to the Office of the President through the OVCRED and/or OVCAA. It continues to offer research and travel grants to support the research efforts of faculty, staff, and students, subject to approval by the OVCRED and the Office of the President. The institute also monitors internally and externally funded projects in coordination with the OVCRED, manages official journals of the main campus—including the Mindanao Journal and its affiliated journals—and ensures academic and creative standards in both research and creative publications.

Moreover, the institute is tasked with building networks and partnerships with national and international institutions to foster collaborative research and creative projects, as well as organizing conferences, symposia, and workshops that provide platforms for faculty, staff, and students to present their research and creative works to wider audiences. It initiates and conducts its own independent research projects to directly contribute to the advancement of knowledge in various fields. The institute formally supports and promotes creative works, encompassing literature, visual arts, and other artistic endeavors, alongside its traditional research functions. Lastly, it serves as the primary repository for Mindanao’s socio-cultural heritage, creative works, and research projects conducted by university faculty members and staff, preserving and providing access to these valuable resources for future scholarly and creative endeavors.

The Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation (MSIRC) traces its origins to 1961 during the establishment of Mindanao State University (MSU). During its initial formation, the Institute of Research for Filipino Culture (IFRC) was created as one of the first four priority departments, alongside the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Social and Political Science, and Education. The IFRC’s mission was to uphold the university’s charter, emphasizing professional training, advanced instruction, and research in Filipino culture, art, science, philosophy, and literature.

In 1967, IFRC was renamed the University Research Center (URC), expanding its mandate to encompass a broader range of research topics across the humanities, natural sciences, and physical sciences. The URC was responsible for formulating research policies, coordinating activities, and publishing scholarly works. In 1989, many of these functions were transferred to the newly created Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), which became responsible for approving and supervising research and extension proposals emanating from the Marawi campus. The URC continued to operate as the facilitating arm of OVCRE, with its Dean of Research designated as the Director of Research, co-chairing deliberations on research proposals submitted to OVCRE. READ MORE…

Vision

The Mamitua Saber Institute of Research and Creation (MSIRC) aspires to lead in multidisciplinary research and creative works, producing high-quality publications responsive to local, national, and global challenges. MSIRC will also serve as the premier repository of the rich socio-cultural heritage of Mindanao and support the Mindanao State University’s goal of becoming an internationally competitive research university.

Mission

The MSIRC fosters a dynamic research and creative culture by implementing and monitoring outputs protected under intellectual property laws. It secures funding and collaborations at national and international levels while maintaining its role as the main repository for the socio-cultural heritage of Mindanao.

Goals

1. Become a leading research and creative institute both nationally and internationally.
2. Generate sustainable, peer-reviewed, internationally indexed publications.
3. Consistently secure substantial research and creative project funding.
4. Serve as the main repository of Mindanao’s socio-cultural heritage and creative works.

Objectives

1. Foster a competitive environment that encourages faculty, staff, and students to engage in high-quality original, groundbreaking research and creative works.
2. Lead the development of research and creative programs aligned with university and national priorities.
3. Sustain research initiatives and creative projects promoting science, technology, humanities, and the socio-cultural heritage of Mindanao’s indigenous peoples.
4. Plan, implement, and evaluate research and creative projects in MSU-Main Campus.
5. Encourage research and creative presentations at local, national, and international forums.
6. Promote and maintain peer-reviewed, CHED-accredited journal publications, and creative outlets.
7. Enhance the capacity of researchers and creators in proposal development, technical writing, and creative documentation.
8. Facilitate access to local and global funding sources.
9. Protect intellectual property rights for research and creative outputs.
10. Promote and sustain national, regional, and international collaborations in research and creative endeavors.

Come and explore research opportunities!