Michelle L. Villavert, a current Master of Education (MEd) in Social Studies graduate student of the Division of Professional Education, succeeded in clinching a competitive research grant from the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) 2026 of the Strengthening Human Rights and Peace Research and Education in Southeast Asia Program (SHAPE-SEA) based in the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP), Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Villavert’s research proposal builds on her MEd special problem project, “Interface of Indigenous Knowledge and Island-Based Climate Change Realities with Policy, Curriculum, and Pedagogy,” which was selected for funding from among more than 472 submissions under the master’s category. The proposal examines the contexts of small island schools—settings that reflect many of Southeast Asia’s distinct sociocultural, political, and geographical realities yet are often marginalized in policy and practice. It explores how these schools navigate the challenges of climate change through institutional mechanisms, policy frameworks, and educational networks, while highlighting the need for more context-responsive policies, curricula, and pedagogical approaches.
The SHAPE-SEA Research Grants Scheme is intended to provide “financial, substantive, and technical support for students, homegrown scholars, and academics across Southeast Asia working on human rights and peace.” The project duration under the grant cycle is from June 2026 to January 2027.
As part of the conditions for the grant, she will be joining an inception meeting with the other selected proposals from in Bangkok on 20-21 July.
Villavert’s special problem proposal has already hurdled the proposal defense phase. Asst. Prof. Donne Jone P. Sodusta, PhD serves as her adviser with Asst. Prof. Irene Betalas as the UPV ProfEd faculty panel member. Ret. Prof. Andrew Eusebio Tan environmental scientist-environmental educator, immediate past president of the Philippine Network of Educators on Environment, and former vice president for research of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University joined them as an external panel member.
Written by Helen Grace Concepcion Q. Fernandez; Nikki Joy R. Gargollo
Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BYSTpH5jf/
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