Philippine E-Journals

Exploring and linking universities in the Asia-Pacific region using “Q-Squared” approaches in research and learning for aquatic ecosystems sustainability

Minerva I. Morales | Jimmy T. Masagca | Aurora E. Araojo

 

Abstract:

Universities in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to be at the forefront of maintaining sustainability to ensure their its own survival in a green economy, contributing to a sustainable quality of human life in the developing world, and supplementing to the strategies of human initiatives sustaining the biosphere (Biodiversity, Ecology and Environment). Responsive to create more opportunities for ecologically sustainable livelihoods while also supporting jobs and training for decent, meaningful work in environment-related professions and careers, the Catanduanes State University (CSU), a Green University has been re-directing its research and development programs such as the Inter-College Consortium on Sustainability in Aquatic Ecosystems for Food Security. With the large body of literature emerging to promote a more systematic integration of “quantitative” and “qualitative” or “Q-Squared” approaches to carry-out food security and aquatic agricultural production programs within the analysis of sustainable development goals, it is worthwhile to apply these flourishing approaches in the Philippines and the rest of the Asia-Pacific region. This paper uses the meta-theoretical analysis of literature on “Status of Food Security Programs in the Philippines using the Scopus/Science Direct of Elsevier data bases as inputs to the over-all water-related and land-based programs of CSU, including a proposed collaborative research and learning programs (e.g. Hybrid Postgraduate, Master’s and PhD Degrees) combining research and course work with seminars/webinars in the less–served islands of the Asia-Pacific region within a proposed research–training facility to be denoted as the Institute for Food Security in Coastal and Small Island Communities.