Mr. Joe Anthony P. Claus, a student from the Master of Research and Development Management (MR&DM) program at the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), recently presented his research at the International Conference on Agriculture and Plantation Management 2025 held at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka on May 16–18, 2025.
The study, titled “Surfacing R&D in the Legislative Process: An Ethnomethodological Analysis of the Journal of Proceedings of a City Government’s Committee Hearing on an Agricultural Ordinance,” was accepted under the Agriculture Resources and Economics track. Out of more than 220 submitted abstracts, only 164 research studies were selected for oral and poster presentations across eight thematic tracks.
Chaired by Dr. Jean A. Saludadez, Mr. Claus’s paper was notably the only qualitative research presented at the conference and distinguished itself by offering a direct analysis of local legislative processes that influence governance. The study introduced an innovative framework for institutionalizing research and development (R&D) in local policymaking, proposing that ordinances be grounded in empirical evidence, structured deliberations, and participatory engagement to ensure data-driven and sustainable policy formulation.
The student credits UPOU-FMDS for the interdisciplinary training and advanced methodologies that enriched the rigor and depth of the research. “The Faculty’s mentorship and intellectual guidance were more than a passport to cross borders and expand knowledge,” he shared. Mr. Claus completed the MR&DM program in 2024.
This international recognition not only highlights the relevance of the MR&DM program but also affirms UPOU-FMDS’s commitment to producing research that informs evidence-based policymaking at various levels of governance.
Written by: Dona Lyn Piamonte & Joe Anthony P. Claus • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz • Cross-posted from FMDS Website
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