USM Department of Political Science

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The USM Department of Political Science invites you to Discourse on Power and Society, a research colloquium dedicated to the presentation and discussion of student research on major questions in political inquiry.

Anchored on the themes of power, governance, and international politics, this year’s colloquium brings together studies under two panels: Asian Politics and Philippine Politics. Through these discussions, the colloquium offers an academic venue for examining regional and national political dynamics through comparative, critical, and evidence-based perspectives.

The activity recognizes the Philippine socio-political experience as a significant field of inquiry that requires careful interpretation, sound analysis, and informed scholarly engagement. It also provides students an opportunity to present their research, refine their arguments, and contribute to meaningful academic exchange within the discipline of Political Science.

Join us this 28 May 2026 via Zoom as we advance student scholarship and deepen critical conversations on power and society.

𝗜𝗡 𝗣𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗢𝗦 | Faculty members and students of the USM Department of Political Science successfully conducted the 1st DISKURSO LAB: Designing and Pitching Public Policy Solutions, held on May 20, 2026, at the ULS Convention Hall. The event featured distinguished resource speaker Prof. Neil Ryan P. Pancho from the Political Science and History Department of Ateneo de Davao University. During the activity, Political Science students participated in lectures on public policy and engaged in crafting policy papers during the afternoon workshop session.

The activity served as a meaningful platform for strengthening students’ analytical, research, and policy-making skills while encouraging critical engagement with contemporary governance issues. Through initiatives such as DISKURSO LAB, the department continues to nurture future policy thinkers and public leaders committed to evidence-based and people-centered governance.

Basta PolSci, Mahusay!

The USM Department of Political Science recognized its students who excelled in leadership, socio-cultural activities, and research during the Gawad Husay 2026 held at the ULS Convention Hall on May 21, 2026. The recognition program celebrated the 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 to the department through 𝗮𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Through Gawad Husay 2026, the department reaffirmed its commitment to supporting and empowering students in their academic and personal endeavors, while continuing to nurture 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆.

𝗨𝗦𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗦𝗰𝗶 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗵 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗲𝘀

From identifying everyday problems to proposing concrete solutions, students of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Department of Political Science proved that policy-making goes beyond theories and classroom discussions during the first-ever DISKURSO LAB: Designing and Pitching Public Policy Solutions held on May 20, 2026, at the University Laboratory School, USM, Kabacan, Cotabato.

A series of lectures and workshops focused on public policy, governance, and policy formulation transpired in the activity.

USM PolSci Students Pitch Policy Solutions to Ph Rising Issues From identifying everyday problems to proposing concrete solutions, students of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) Department of Political Science proved that policy-making goes beyond theories […]

𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐎 𝐋𝐀𝐁: 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

The USM Department of Political Science is honored to introduce our guest speaker for tomorrow’s DiskursoLab, Asst. Prof. Neil Ryan P. Pancho, MPA, a faculty member of the Political Science and History Department of Ateneo de Davao University.

Asst. Prof. Pancho teaches courses on Philippine political parties and social movements, Philippine public administration, and Philippine electoral forms. He also served as the former director of the Center for Politics and International Affairs (CPIA) of ADDU, and as a former member of the Board of Trustees of the Philippine Political Science Association from 2017 to 2019.
With his academic background and experience in the field of political science, Asst. Prof. Pancho will provide meaningful discussions that will help participants deepen their understanding of politics, governance, civic engagement, and policy-making.
Join us as we listen, learn, and engage in a meaningful discourse at DiskursoLab. See you there!
✍️: Nicolle Shyne Dacillo
💻: Neilmar Cinco

𝐈𝐍 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒: Second-year students of the USM Department of Political Science successfully participated in the 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐒𝐈𝐊 𝟐𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 at the ESO Conference Room. The event served as an academic paper presentation and final requirement for their POS 12: Asian Politics class under Inst. John Ryan F. Fernandez. This forum provides a platform for academic research, critical analysis, and evidence-based discussion on contemporary international realities.

𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐒𝐈𝐊 𝟐𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 🌏

Tomorrow at 7:30 AM at the ESO Conference Room, we will hold SALIKSIK 201: Student Research Forum on International Politics, an academic paper presentation of selected BA Political Science students enrolled in POS 12: Asian Politics and POS 07: Introduction to International Relations, under the course instructor Mr. John Ryan F. Fernandez. In an increasingly interconnected world, international political developments continue to shape governance, economies, security, and diplomacy.

This forum serves as the final requirement of the said courses and provides a platform for academic research, critical analysis, and evidence-based discussion on contemporary international realities. Join us as we showcase student papers that deepen understanding of international politics.

𝗨𝗦𝗠 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗦𝗰𝗶 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲

Three faculty members and 27 political science students from the Department of Political Science of the University of Southern Mindanao are attending the 2026 Philippine Political Science International Conference at Silliman University in Dumaguete City, held from April 28 to 30, 2026.

Hosted by the Silliman University, the annual conference serves as a vital platform for advancing political scholarship by bringing together scholars from across the country and abroad to exchange ideas, present research, and engage in critical academic discussions.

Through their participation, the USM delegates contribute to the development of political science as a discipline, fostering intellectual exchange and strengthening research culture within and beyond the university.

Delegates from the USM Department of Political Science will present their respective research works and actively participate in the conference sessions.

The USM PolSci delegation is led by Asst. Prof. Rowell Nitafan, DPA, together with Assoc. Prof. Roselyn M. Clemen, JD, MPA, and Inst. John Ryan Fernandez.

The USM Department of Political Science extends its gratitude to USM President Jonald Pimentel, PhD; VPAA Leorence Tandog, PhD; CASS Dean Marlyn Resurreccion, PhD; and Department Chairperson Ernesto Buenaventura Jr., JD, MPA, for their support.

LOOK: Assistant Professor Rowell P. Nitafan, DPA, of the Department of Political Science, together with his team, won 2nd Place in the DIP Lab Polisiya, Pasya, Siyensya Policy Hackathon 2026 with their policy paper titled “Standardizing Barangay-Level Time-Use Data to Make Rubber Programs Work for Women,” representing the University of Southern Mindanao and the Philippine Rubber Research Institute.

The event was organized by the Gender and Development Laboratory in Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Sector (GAD Lab in AANR) and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).