In a collaborative move to strengthen teacher education research in the country, City College of Cagayan de Oro and Xavier University–Ateneo de Cagayan conducted a Tool Development Workshop last July 1–2, 2025 at the Learning Resource Center, School of Education, Xavier University. The activity supports the implementation of the Teacher Education Council (TEC)-accepted research project, “Mentorship that Matters: An Empirical Study on Predictive Modeling for Pre-Service Teachers among Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in Visayas and Mindanao.”
The research initiative is officially recognized under the Research Initiatives in Teacher Education (RITE) 2 Project of the TEC, aimed at producing policy-relevant evidence to improve pre-service teacher preparation programs nationwide. The study explores predictive models that link mentorship quality and support systems to pre-service teacher readiness, employability, and transition to the teaching profession.
Select faculty members and administrators from City College of Cagayan de Oro joined hands with its partner school, Xavier University, in refining the research tools and methodology. The workshop focused on the development of survey instruments that would assess mentorship practices, institutional readiness, and the career preparedness of mentees across identified TEIs in Visayas and Mindanao.
“This collaboration reflects our strong commitment to evidence-based improvements in teacher education,” said Dr. Jestoni Babia, President of City College of Cagayan de Oro. “We are proud to take part in a national research initiative that will directly benefit pre-service teachers across the country.” Key sessions included presentations on the study’s conceptual framework, identification of key variables and indicators, alignment of tools with national standards such as the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST), and participatory tool review and revision. Xavier University faculty also shared insights on quality assurance and ethical protocols for research. “At Xavier University, we believe in the power of research to shape meaningful educational reforms,” said Dr. Edralin Manla, Dean of the School of Education at Xavier University.
This collaborative milestone highlights the strong commitment of local academic institutions to support national education reforms through research-based decision-making. It also paves the way for a more contextualized understanding of mentorship in diverse teacher education settings across the country.
The research team is scheduled to conduct pilot testing and field implementation in the succeeding months, with findings expected to inform policy enhancements in teacher education and the institutionalization of effective mentorship models nationwide.
This initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 – Quality Education, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.