Increasing the research capacities of our HEIs means increasing the capacity of the country to compete in the global knowledge-based economy. Strong knowledge production is a reliable pathway towards national, economic, social, and cultural development. The Philippines lacks functional research universities. However, the few research-focused HEIs have the potential to nurture the human resources of other chosen HEIs, thereby enhancing their research capabilities.
Having more research-intensive HIEs can eventually conceptually prepare our legislators and higher education leaders for the establishment of functional research universities. This study recommends the encouragement of partnerships that develop human resources among the Philippines’ first-tier comprehensive research-intensive HEIs and their second-tier research-intensive SUCs.
