PASCN Navigation

Thesis and Dissertation Assistance Program (TDAP)

 

Nature/Objective of the PASCN-TDAP

The Thesis and Dissertation Assistance Program of the Philippine APEC Study Center Network is a financial assistance grant to graduate students of the member institutions of the PASCN. It aims to extend financial support for the writing and production of the graduate students' thesis or dissertation.

 

The program is open only to graduate students who have already completed all their academic requirements for a masteral or PhD degree, except for the thesis and dissertation. Graduate students who are required to do a "special problem research" instead of a thesis or dissertation will be given special consideration.

 

Guidelines

Who May Apply?

All graduate students from the member-institutions of the PASCN who are preparing to do their thesis or dissertation may apply. Graduate students from non-PASCN members may also apply and submit their thesis/dissertation proposals but priority will be given to graduate students of PASCN member-institutions.

 

Priority Topics/Areas of Concern

Topics for the thesis/dissertation proposals may fall under any topic of interest to the Asia-Pacific. Priority, however, will be given to research topics covering:

  • trade and investment liberalization and facilitation
  • small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
  • human resource development
  • economic and technical cooperation
  • science and technology
  • infrastructure and regional development
  • sub-regional arrangements

 

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals

The following constitute the set of criteria to be used in evaluating the proposals:

  • relevance of proposed research to national or regional development;
  • contribution of research to a better understanding of the APEC; and
  • compliance with generally accepted standards for thesis and dissertation.

 

Terms and Conditions of the Grant

  1. Amount of financial assistance. An amount of up to P50,000 will be extended for the preparation of a masteral thesis while an amount of up to P100,000 will be provided for a PhD dissertation. The final amount, however, will be determined by the PASCN Thesis Grants Committee, depending on the topic and nature of the proposal.
     
  2. Other Benefits. Besides the financial assistance, the successful applicant or grantee may also enjoy free access to all the available databases covering the Asia-Pacific at the PASCN Secretariat which include among others, trade data, social statistics, financial statistics, food and agricultural data as well, financial statistics, food and agricultural data as well as world economic indicators. The expertise provided by the members of the Thesis Grants Committee in their review and evaluation of the proposals may likewise be considered as free technical assistance given to the grantee.
     
  3. Timeframe for Completion. The masteral thesis should be completed within a period of one (1) year while the dissertation must be finished within two (2) years from the date of approval of the grant. Request for an extension may be approved, if justified, on a case-to-case basis. The period of extension, should not, however, exceed one year. Neither should the request for extension involve a request for additional funding.
     
  1. Disbursements and Usage of Grants. The financial grant shall be spent only to defray actual expenses incurred in the writing and production of the thesis/dissertation. This includes data gathering as well as payment for enumerators/interviewers and encoders, supplies and materials, computer time, transportation, typing and binding services. No part of the grant shall be spent for salaries, honoraria, allowances and the like in any form for the grantee, adviser, consultant or similar person(s).

    The schedule of releases of the grant will be as follows: 
    a)  First release (40 percent) - upon approval of the proposal by the Steering Committee based on the recommendation of the Thesis Grant Commttee; and signing of contract;
    b)  Second release (40 percent) - upon submission of the study's preliminary results thru a report and a technical workshop, subject to evaluation and acceptance by the PASCN;
    c)  Third and final release (20 percent) - upon submission in CD (including data); two (2) hard bound copies of the completed thesis or dissertation; and Policy Note to the PASCN Secretariat, subject to evaluation and acceptance by the PASCN.
     
  1. Obligations of the Grantees. Under the grant agreement, the grantee's obligations include the following:
  1. Submit a written status/ progress report(s) once every semester, following the PASCN-TDAP format (ANNEX III);
  2. Inform the PASCN Secretariat in writing about any changes in the grantee's research program/ schedule;
  3. Submit to the PASCN Secretariat all the required outputs corresponding to the financial grant already released should the GRANTEE  fail to finish the study;
  4. Submit to the PASCN Secretariat all the electronic files containing the data used in the study and an expressed permission for the  PASCN to use the data with the  appropriate acknowledgement of the source of the same; 
  5. Acknowledge the assistance of the PASCN in his research work;
  6.  Submit certicate of approval from the Dean of the Graduate School and /or the thesis/ dissertation adviser for the PASCN to publish an abridged version of the thesis/ dissertation;
  7. Submit to the PASCN Secretariat of two (2) hardbound copies of the completed thesis/dissertation, together with an Abstract of the study and soft copy of the thesis/dissertation; 
  8. Present/discuss the outputs and findings of the research during meetings, workshops, seminars, or other fora that may be convened or organized by the PASCN Secretariat;
  9.  Submit a short version of the study to be published as PIDS Policy Note or an article in the Development Reserach News 
     
  1. Contract of Agreement. A contract outlining all the above terms and conditions shall be entered into by and between the grantee and the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (as lead agency of the PASCN) represented by its President. The Dean of the grantee's Graduate School as well as the grantee's adviser/supervisor shall be witnesses to the contract. Failure to comply with the conditions of the grant shall render the grantee ineligible for further grants. Said provision will remain until such time that the grantee is able to complete all the requirements of the contract. 


    Application Requirements:
       Applicants are required to submit the following:
    1) Duly accomplished application form; and CV;
    2) Application letter addressed to the PASCN Secretariat, (include in the letter why the study should merit the grant/ justification and relate
        study to APEC);
    3) Endorsement letters of the Dean of the Graduate School of the applicants’ institution as well as his/her adviser/supervisor. Said letter(s)
        should also include what other grants the applicant may be receiving or is expected to receive from other institutions/ agencies;
    4) Certification of approval of thesis/ dissertation outline signed by the members of the Advisory Committee;
    5) Copy of endorsed thesis/ dissertation proposal, following the PASCN-TDAP format;
    6) Copy of grades of graduate studies


All applications may be submitted to: 

Dr. Francis Mark A. Quimba
Project Director
Philippine APEC Study Center Network (PASCN) Secretariat
Philippine Institute for Development Studies
18F Three Cyberpod Centris, North Tower EDSA cor Quezon Avenue, Quezon City
Telephone nos: (632) 877-4072 to 76
Fax no: (632) 877-4099
E-mail address : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Downloadable Requirements:

1) TDAP Proposal Format;

2) TDAP Recommendation Form; and

3) TDAP Application Form.