The World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) recently recognized Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) as one of the top 100 academic institutions in three categories.
CHMSU placed 26th in Crisis Management, 70th in Social Responsibility, and 93rd in Industrial Application, according to a WURI announcement on June 7.
The WURI assesses higher education institutions’ real contributions to industry and society, highlighting innovative education, research, and engagement to society.
Using 13 categories, it encompasses innovation targets and methods, offering a comprehensive measure of institutions’ creative contributions to societal advancement, according to the WURI.
Crisis Management
The university landed in 26th place for Crisis Management through its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Public Utility/Health Workers and Students project and the Bottle-net Life Jacket innovation, according to the CHMSU Quality Management Office (QMO).
This category focuses on managing environmental and economic crisis that universities face from the greater society, such as climate change, diseases like COVID-19, and other global and local crisis
The direct project beneficiary of the PPE project was the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Regional Hospital during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. The project was launched in April 2021.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office 17 hospitals it operates in the province also benefitted from the project. On the other hand, the washable face masks are intended for four campuses.
The project tapped 25 tailors as the academic institution’s adopted community partners.
Meanwhile the bottle-net life jacket is an innovation developed by CHMSU Tuklas Innovation Team as an alternative to expensive commercial life jackets. The innovation was launched in Talisay City in July 2018.
Social Responsibility
CHMSU earned the 70th place in the Social Responsibility category through its College of Education Mentoring the Mentor and “Titser Ko, Pulis Ko” programs, said the QMO.
The Social Responsibility category underscores researching and educating ethics and integrity, rather than solely concentrating on knowledge and skills for academic success.
Launched in March 2021, Titser Ko, Pulis Ko program is a strategic community extension program of the College of Criminal Justice with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (LDRRMO).
Training and seminars on fire prevention awareness, environmental awareness, crime prevention and juvenile justice welfare were conducted to the community and even in public schools of Brgy. Enclaro, Municipality of Binalbagan. The college also held training on self-defense tactics, first aid, and rescue was also conducted to youth, “tanods” (barangay police officers) and volunteers.
Industrial Application
The research and development across various programs landed the university 93rd place in the Industrial Application category–Solid Waste Management System (SWMS) with Technological Opportunities, and Coastal Monitoring and Vulnerability Assessment System (CMVAS), according to the QMO.
The SWMS research aimed to determine the performance efficiency of the Solid Waste Management System as a tool in monitoring the recyclables collection in the local government units of Bago City, Cadiz City, and San Carlos City.
Meanwhile, the CMVAS is a research-based extension program of the university that aims develop a web based application on vulnerability assessment for coastal in Negros Occidental.
The Industrial Application category emphasizes the application of industrial-related education and research to generate tangible impacts, diverging from the conventional focus on academia-driven research and education.
The ranking, said the WURI, aims to spotlight higher education institutions that excel in these innovative approaches, thereby inspiring advancements across the academic and societal landscape.
