The Center for Policy, Research and Development Studies (CPRDS) was established in June 1979 as Research Center under the leadership of Dr. Carmen Mandal – Eturma and the rectorship of Rev. Fr. Blas Montenegro, OAR.

Later, when Rev. Fr. Hernando Coja, OAR assumed the rectorship, he clearly laid out the close relationship of research and foresight and had the nomenclature changed to Research and Planning Center.

Realizing the difference it had made in the University, Rev. Fr. Rafael E. Cabarles, OAR added to the Center’s many tasks, the processing and monitoring of USJ-R scholarship programs other than the academic scholarships. Thus, it became Research, Planning and Scholarship Center.

Dr. Eturma disclosed thatdespite the difficulty under her leadership, the Research Center was already able to link up with local, national, and foreign research grantors. Among the grantors were the SGV Professorial Chair with three grantees from USJ-R, some local entities, and a grant from the International Development and Research Center (IDRC) Canada. From the time, Dr. Eturma had assumed in office as the first research director until the moment she retired, the University had obtained grants from local and international organization. As an indefatigable researcher, she has collaborative work with De La Salle University Research Center on Leadership and Power Structure of Cebu City Barangays(1982) and with the Philippine Asssociation of Accrediting Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) on Bilingualism in the Public Schools of Cebu Province (1984), as well as University of Oslo in its International Summer School (Internasionalesommerskole) (1986) for her paper on the Role of Women in the Promotion of Peace and Freedom and Low Intensity Conflict in the Visayas Regions of the Philippines. Eturma also had a number of action researches that led to some of the conveniences the present generation of Josenians enjoy. Among these are the Talavera Retreat House as an offshoot of the study on Cebu City’s retreat houses and the inception of the Research Journal that originated from the Graduate School Journal which she was editor. Shortly after her retirement, University of Australia commissioned her for a paper on Ethnic Separatism in Southern Philippines.

After Dr. Eturma, the Center was then managed by Dr. Audrey Barbara N. Bucad who introduced some changes in the office processes and programs. Among them were having the University Research Council, institutional Development and Research Council, Faculty Performance Evaluation, and Faculty Research Proposal Hearing which are generally directed towards the improvement of the University’s programs and services, students, faculty and employees.

After Dr. Eturma, the Center was then managed by Dr. Audrey Barbara N. Bucad who introduced some changes in the office processes and programs. Among them were having the University Research Council, institutional Development and Research Council, Faculty Performance Evaluation, and Faculty Research Proposal Hearing which are generally directed towards the improvement of the University’s programs and services, students, faculty and employees.

After Dr. Tomakin left the University, a lady professor from the College of Commerce became the new director, Dr. Ma. Victoria U. Sy. She and about two or three faculty were able to present their papers overseas. Bent on pushing faculty members to engage in research, she initially stirred many for the introduction of “publish or perish concept” of research culture that was factored in the ranking scheme among the faculty of the University of San Jose-Recoletos. During her term as the director, the Innovation and Technology Support Office (ITSO) was established. Being a franchise of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, ITSO serves as a patent library not just for students but also for external clients.

From a lady, a gentleman from College of Arts and Sciences was appointed as director – Dr. Juanito B. Aliño Jr. who became the fifth director of the center. During his term, the University has started enabling its faculty more in research through monthly capability trainings, research creation and more presentation in both local and overseas conferences. The Recoletos Multidisciplinary Research Journal was born and earned Category A by the Commission on Higher Education.

When Dr. Aliño left due to retirement, Dr. Agnes Cinco – Sequiño, assumed the directorship. With the support of the administrators, Dr. Sequiño has increased the number of faculty researchers sent to present papers in conferences abroad who also mostly got recognized for their contribution to knowledge generation. She further strengthened the Research Capability and Assistance Programs for Faculty and Students, Quality Assurance Program, Trainers and Contributors Training, as well as strengthening the Journal Publication and Management Office, and enriched linkage programs with local and international networks of researchers in private and state-owned colleges and universities. To date, the CPRDS is moving towards expanding the public’s awareness of the Center to be at the core of policymaking, research and development.