The University of the East Office of Research Coordination (ORC) was established on March 31, 1995, initially to address the need to conduct studies for institutional policy-making and evaluation. The UE ORC serves as the secretariat of the University Research Committee which meets every other month to discuss research activities and research concerns of the University. Other ORC responsibilities include the following.
Maintaining updated records of research activities—completed, ongoing, and planned—across various colleges and faculty members.
Acting as the central hub for UE research reports and related documents;
Providing technical support for research initiatives;
Organizing internal research training programs for faculty and academic staff;
Organizing a biannual UE Research Forum in March and September
Conducting policy-related research;
Publishing the University Research Journal, formerly the University of the East Research Bulletin, to showcase research findings of faculty, students and other university constituents;
Building partnerships with local and international research and academic institutions.
One of the responsibilities of the ORC is to organize the biannual UE Research Forum held in February or March during the UE Caloocan Week and in September during the celebration of the University’s foundation anniversary. The forum serves as a vital platform for the presentation and discussion of research outputs from various colleges and academic units, highlighting UE’s continuing commitment to advancing knowledge, fostering critical inquiry, and addressing contemporary societal issues through research-driven solutions.
The University has conducted 19 research fora. Even during the pandemic, the UE ORC was able to hold UE’s 12th to 14th research fora. The 12th University Research Forum, held virtually on September 25, 2020, showcased the University of the East’s commitment to academic excellence and research innovation despite the challenges of the pandemic.
Attended by key university leaders, including then President-Chief Academic Officer Dr. Ester A. Garcia, then Manila Campus Chancellor Dr. Linda P. Santiago, then Caloocan Campus Chancellor Dr. Zosimo M. Battad, and ORC Director Dr. Lydia R. Leonardo, the event featured four research presentations from faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences of both the Caloocan and Manila campuses.
These studies explored diverse topics—from media practices and cultural reflections to decision-making in education and student well-being—highlighting the breadth of scholarly inquiry within the University.
Similarly, the 13th U-Belt Research Forum, held via Zoom on September 23, 2021, as part of UE’s 75th Foundation Anniversary, continued this tradition by featuring research from UE Caloocan, the Office of Research Coordination, and Adamson University.
Presentations tackled timely and relevant issues such as the University’s COVID-19 response, online learning, academic procrastination, popular music in digital media, retention policies, and mental health. The 14th UE Research Forum was held online on September 29, 2022, with the theme “Overcoming the Challenges in Research During the Pandemic”.
Topics ranged from Facebook dependency and political engagement, weather and geoinformatics systems, health and nutrition profiles, and circadian rhythm impacts on academic performance, to research productivity systems, online learning engagement, ophthalmic drug delivery, and clinical trials on humidifiers for eye care. Presenters came from the University of the East, Centro Escolar University, Adamson University, and UP Manila.
On September 27, 2023, the first onsite research forum after the pandemic was held with the theme “Strengthening the Interface Between the Academe and the Community through Research and Innovation” at the UE Manila Conference Hall. The event brought together faculty researchers and students from various universities, including the University of the East, Far Eastern University, Centro Escolar University, and Manuel L. Quezon University, who presented innovative studies addressing societal and academic challenges.
Key presentations explored diverse topics such as the influence of electronic word of mouth on travel decisions during the pandemic, queer representation in Filipino web series, development of a low-cost mobile robot for training, a data analytics decision-making tool, investment risks between traditional and cryptocurrency options, eye-tracking behavior in problem-solving, vertical farming for urban food security, and language and writing practices in education.
The two most recent research fora were held in celebration of the University’s 78th and 79th founding anniversaries. The 2024 forum, with the theme “Reaching New Heights through Research Beyond 78,” was attended by over 580 participants from the UE campuses and partner universities, featuring studies on biodiversity, nanotechnology, education, management, tourism, and disaster preparedness.
Meanwhile, the 2025 forum, with the theme “UE at 79: Discover the UEverse,” showcased 10 multidisciplinary papers that reflected the University’s growing research culture and the integration of artificial intelligence in academic work. Presentations tackled topics such as AI-driven tools, digital learning, environmental sustainability, and educational challenges, while university leaders encouraged ethical, collaborative, and technology-driven research. Together, both fora demonstrated UE’s sustained pursuit of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community impact in higher education research.