In congruence with its vision, "as an empowering Christ-centered Vincentian learning institution," SJDEFI College engages its stakeholders actively in research and in whole learning process through dynamic involvement in strategic local, national and global capacity building towards the enhancement of life. Grounded in the Vincentian ideals and teaching as reflected in the philosophy, curriculum, pedagogy and practices, the institution encourages everyone to do the scientific inquiry through research and development.
The innovative culture of SJDEFI-College, is defined by its four facets of innovative research culture, the Catholic Identity, Employee Development, Student Engagement and Operational Vitality.
Table 1
Facets and Agenda for Innovative Research Culture
| Facets | Research Agenda |
|---|---|
| 1. Catholic Identity | Agenda 1: Multi-faith Harmony Agenda 2: Respect for God's Creation |
| 2. Employee Development | Agenda 3: Personality Development Agenda 4: Professional Development |
| 3. Student Engagement | Agenda 5: Student Achievement Agenda 6: Learning Environment |
| 4. Operational Vitality | Agenda 7: Leadership and Management Community Engagement |
Each of these facets is represented by domains (as reflected in Table 1), that will also serve as its eight (8) agenda for research.
Facet 1: Catholic Identity (CI) is that facet of the SJDCian innovative culture that is committed to the building of a civilization of love, strengthened by a community that nurtures faith formation, integral development of persons, intercultural dialogue, academic service and humble service (Research Agenda, 2017-2018).
Standard:SJDEFI-College is an academic institution that “is impelled by the mission to proclaim, give witness and transmit the Christian faith with new methods, new expressions, and new fervor towards a transformed society” because of its preferential option for the poor.
Suggested studies could include the engagement of the academic community of its social responsibility to address issues of those who are underserved and unheard and the like. This to covers the nature of SJDCians in living out the core values within and beyond its academic walls in harmony with others of different faith and beliefs.
The pillars of transformative education of the Catholic Educators Association of the Philippine (CEAP) specifically on justice and peace, ecological integrity, engaged citizenship, and poverty alleviation.
The care for our common home, e.g. ecology disaster preparedness/mobilization response and temporalities (BERA, 2016; NHERA, 2016), are appropriate topics of research for this facet.
Facet 2: Personnel development (PD) is that facet of research which focuses on studies centering on the opportunities that would promote continual learning for its employees and stakeholders enabling them to create an academic environment where teachers are readily learning, personally and professionally.
Standard: The academic institution is manned by employees who are abreast with the current practices in relation to their roles and responsibilities (BERA, Cited December, 2021, RCBP Webinar) just as they possess reflexivity in order to utilize study findings. Inquires on personnel motivation, improvement and self-directness as well as continuous professional development becomes a fit for this agenda. Gender equality/sensitivity and media education (CEAP, 2020; BERA, 2016) could also be the focus for this facet. Likewise, the mystique of living together as another DC missionary commitment, health care and Vincentian collaboration.
Facet 3: Student engagement (SE) focuses on the integral formation of the human person through relevant innovations in curriculum and instructional delivery.
Standard: Tools, guidelines and other protocols and policies are clearly disseminated to the students. They also know how they are being assessed and are being recognized of their academic and non-academic endeavors, intra-and extramurally.
Studies on this facet could be on standards of student evaluations, the impacts/effects of the instructional delivery modes and on exploring their perceptions about the services delivered and on issues that concerns them. This could also include those factors that can influence their personal growth as individuals or as a group such the youth empowerment or those researches “.. that enables the youth to act and lead for the common good with compassion, freedom and responsibility” (JEEPGYM, CEAP, 2020).
Passing on the faith and human values as one ofthe Daughters of Charity missionary commitments, can also be central to this facet-vocation promotion, education and Christian Vincentian living.
Facet 4: Operational Vitality (OV) is that facet of research which centers on the processes/innovations that would foster the sustainability of the academic community amidst disasters, calamities and emergencies. With its century-old history, it is hoped that through studies under this category, the College, with its rich history shall be preserved, promoted and improved to sustain the tides of time.
Standard: SJDEFI-College is governed and administered by servant leaders and lay mission partners who are personally and professionally qualified to lead and be led, and are actively adapted and/or adopting to the changes brought about by personal, professional and societal needs. Studies centered into mentoring for administrative leadership/stewardship (BERA, 2016; NHERA, 2016) processes and strategies and/or redesigning employee evaluation; administrative controls; practices that promotes co- responsibility, social commitment and commitment to Vincentian excellence becomes the essential core value for this agenda.