Research and Extension

Research and Extension Service

Research has always been embedded in the culture of the University of the Philippines. As mandated by RA 9500, or the UP Charter of 2008, the University shall lead in initiating innovations in research, and serve as a research university by promoting and implementing research and development in various fields of expertise.

UP ICE is comprised of six academic groups highlighting the fields of specialization under Civil Engineering:

Faculty and staff members of UP ICE are involved in various research and extension projects through different research centers affiliated to the Institute like the UP Building Research Service, UP National Center for Transportation Studies, and UP National Hydraulic Research Center. Similarly, some are involved in contract research projects funded by government and private institutions including the UP Diliman Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Development (OVCRD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine California Advanced Research Institute through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED-PCARI), and JICA ASEAN University Network Southeast Asia Engineering Education Development Network (AUN SEED-Net), among others.

Faculty members are encouraged to pursue a research track to advance their knowledge in their desired field of expertise, and contribute to nation building. The Institute takes its research initiatives to a higher level not only by implementing groundbreaking research, but also by promoting the dissemination and application of research thru publications, presentation in seminars/webinars and conferences – fulfilling the University’s other mandate to lead as a public service university through the deployment of outputs that are beneficial to society, a process known as knowledge transfer or technology transfer.

Extension activities of the six academic groups are undertaken according to three general categories:

  1. Technical advisory and/or consultancy – faculty members involved in a technical capacity for their expertise/specialization in various projects;
  2. Capacity building – faculty members are involved in capacity building including the conceptualization and development of training programs, seminars and workshops. Many faculty members are also tapped as resource speakers; and
  3. Membership in committees – faculty members are active in various committee work including technical working groups under various government agencies and professional groups.

Some faculty members are also active in participating in technical committees, consulting work, and as resource persons in various events of Professional Groups including:

  • American Concrete Institute (ACI) Philippines
  • Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. (ASEP)
  • Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. (PICE)
  • Philippine Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (PSSMGE)
  • Transportation Science Society of the Philippines (TSSP)

Soon, when new laboratories start operating in the ICE Compound, it will significantly advance the research in civil engineering and its subfields and allied fields which will be able to produce graduates who are leading experts in the country.