NWU COBE successfully hosts 3rd NPBRC

To improve and showcase their business research presentations, the College of Business Education (COBE) of Northwestern University (NWU) conducted the 3rd Northern Philippines Business Research Conference (NPBRC) on February 23-24, 2022, via Zoom Videoconferencing App. It is a two-day activity that consists of plenary sessions and research presentations.

The research conference started with the messages from Atty. Ferdinand S. Nicolas, President of the NWU, Dr. Winston Conrad Padojinog, President of the University of Asia and the Pacific, and Dr. Jennifer Ramos, Founding President of Council Marketing Educators.

“The Northern Philippines Business Research Conference is one of those tools that allows businesses to gather data to see what is out there and to adapt; this is really the focus and purpose of research really to aid industry, to be able to become more efficient, more effective and to achieve its objective, their own objective,” Atty. Nicolas said.

 “The conference’s objective is to bring together top academic scientists, researchers, and research scholars. To share their experiences and discuss research findings on the facets management,” Dr. Ramos stated as she gave her insights about the conference.

Moreover, Prof. Jocelyn Evangelista, Administrative Dean of COBE, acknowledged the participating schools from the different parts of the Philippines and abroad.

The first plenary session is about the Responsible Research for Business Management discussed by Prof. Agnieszka Chidlow, Chair in International Business, Senior Editor/International Business Review; Co-Founder/Academy of International Business Research Methods – Shared Interest Group (AIB RM-SIG); Working Board Member/Responsible Research in Business & Management network (RRBM); and Assessor of Association of MBAs (AMBAs).

Dr. Dinah Pura T. Depositario, University Educator and Researcher of the University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB), explained the Philippine Business Education in the New Normal in the second plenary session.

“Even if we have this high-tech AI, I would still like to believe that the case method which we are using in our business and entrepreneurship courses has become more relevant than ever,” Dr. Depositario said.

Lastly, Dr. Evan Lau, Associate Professor, Faculty of Economics and Business in the University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), elaborated the Malaysian Business Education in the New Normal.

“The pandemic has accelerated the urgency for agility, adaptability, and transformation into the digital front for the business education,” Dr. Lau stated.

In the afternoon, the students’ research presentations took place in four (4) different tracks involving Marketing, Human Resources, Finance and Accounting, and Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management.

During the second day of the event, Dr. Eric S. Parilla, NWU Vice President for Research, Community Extension, and Integrated Agriculture Development (RCEID) and COBE Dean, presented the Promotion of Industry-Academe Collaboration: The Case of the College of Business Education, Northwestern University.

“Universities are considered as economic engines that contribute to the local and regional growth in addition to their core role as centers of knowledge,” Dr. Parilla stated.

At the same time, Prof. Jojo Villamin, founder and the Immediate Past President at Philippine Association of Researchers for Tourism and Hospitality (PARTH), tackled the State of Philippine Business Research during the last plenary session.

After the plenary sessions, Dr. Chita A. Gonzales, NWU Vice President of Academic Affairs, expressed her gratitude to the speakers of each plenary session of the said event.

“On behalf of the universities, thank you for delivering such important materials so that all of us can deepen our knowledge about business research,” Dr. Gonzales said.

“I sincerely hope that through your presentation and discussions, all of you can contribute to solving the educational and business problems in your own countries,” she added.

The awarding of the best research presenters took place.

Here is the list of winners:

1. Marketing Track –  Mary Ann Bartolome, Cherrie Mae Corpuz, John Paul Siniguan, Jed Tarangco, Gerrimae Dulin, Cathleen Soriano, and Karen Joy Catacutan from the University of Saint Louis, Tuguegarao
2. Finance and Accounting Track –  Dr. Marjory Uy Legaspi
3. Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management Track – Mark Herbert Cabuang, Oscar Porras Jr., Mario Jacinto Robles, and Dr. Ruel Maningas
4. Human Resource Track – and Dr. Ma. Steffi P. Manhit from University of Asia and the Pacific.

To conclude the conference, Dr. Jonah Badua, Dean of the NWU College of Criminal Justice Education, gave her gratitude to the administrators, speakers, organizers, and participants of NPBRC.

 “I strongly believe that every participant gained new insights to cherish and put into practice for professional development,” Dr. Badua said.