On February 1, 2023, the UA&P Sciences Engineering and Management Research Institute (UA&P-SEMRI) and the University of the Philippines – National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) signed an agreement to undertake collaboration in the field of transportation and logistics research and dissemination. UP NCTS is an internationally recognized research center in the field of transportation studies with a mission to contribute to national growth and development by supporting academic instruction, conducting and promoting scholarly research, training, information and other extension services in the field of transportation. 

Under the agreement, the two research centers will undertake research on the following themes: transportation equity and justice, mobilization of financing for informal public transportation, and property value capture.

Established in December 2021, SEMRI is a collaboration between the School of Sciences and Engineering (SSE) and the School of Management (SMN) of UA&P. Its vision is to be a leading trans- and multi- disciplinary research institute on the theme of societal innovation and sustainability in the Global South, using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods. Its mission is to advance sustainable development goals in the Global South through research, technology and policies. 

Since its establishment, SEMRI-affiliated researchers have already published a total of 9 Scopus-indexed articles in transportation, sustainable financing, energy and digital innovation. 

Transportation Engineering is ranked the number one research topic in UA&P according to EduRank. UA&P ranked 13th in the Philippines, 4979th in the global 2023 rating, and scored in 12 research topics, based on EduRank’s 2023 global ratings. Of these 12 research topics, transportation engineering emerged as the top. Transportation is one of SEMRI’s priority research areas. 

In March 2023, SEMRI conducted the 1st Policy Dialogue on Service Contracting for Efficient and Equitable Public Transport Systems. This was attended by key stakeholders from the government, private sector, academe and consultancy firms.

Activities for 2023

Contact persons for SEMRI

  • Dr Enrique M. Ligot SEMRI Executive Director and Vice Dean – SSE 
  • Dr. Varsolo C. Sunio – SEMRI Chief Research Fellow and SMN/SSE part-time faculty Ms. Karen Victoria Aragoncillo – SEMRI Administrative Officer and SSE Admin Staff