By: Keziah Nicole Fernandez

On January 23, 2026, the Research Proposal Pitching and Mentorship Program was successfully conducted as part of the continuing initiatives of the Rights2LIFE Project, in collaboration with its international partners from Ghent University. The activity aimed to strengthen research capacity, promote ethical and rights-based scholarship, and provide structured mentorship to emerging researchers.

Faculty Members from CCJE and CAS pitching their Research Proposals

The core of the activity was the research proposal pitching session, where participants from the College of Criminal Justice Education and College of Arts and Sciences, Political Science Department presented their proposed studies and received expert feedback from Ghent University professors, Prof. Dr. Christophe Vandeviver and Prof. Dr. Tom Vander Beken. The session emphasized methodological rigor and the relevance of research outputs to community needs and policy development.

Ghent University Professors as Panel Members during the Pitching of Research Proposals

Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the activity directly contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing research skills and academic mentorship, as well as SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting rights-based research that supports transparent, inclusive, and accountable institutions, and finally SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through sustained international collaboration between the Rights2LIFE Project and Ghent University. Through this initiative, the program reinforced the vital role of research in advancing human rights, social development, and evidence-informed governance.

CCJE and CAS Faculty with Ghent University Professors