THE APO Volume 1, Issue 1 The Official Research Journal of January to December 2022 Gordon College ISSN: 2546-1745 61 SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COMPETENCIES OF GORDON COLLEGE FACULTY AND STAFF: BASIS FOR THREE-YEAR STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN Darwin P. Paguio 1 , PhD Kristin Joy A. Mendoza 2 , MM-PM 1 College of Education, Arts, and Sciences 2 Human Resource Management Unit ABSTRACT This study determined the scientific research competencies of Gordon College personnel. It utilized a descriptive design with the questionnaire as the main data-gathering tool. Fifty-eight (58) personnel participated in the study selected through convenience sampling. The research skills of respondents were measured through information- seeking skills and methodology skills. The attitude of respondents toward research was determined through eight dimensions using the Educators’ Attitudes Toward Educational Research Scale. The research profile of the respondents reveals that they have very little exposure to research-related training, seminars and conferences, and research presentations at the institutional level and more so at regional, national, and international levels. Faculty and staff who were able to attend have only attended one or two of these activities. Research undertakings and publications were also minimal. Respondents strongly agreed that they possess the skill of finding strategies to look for information and that they are highly equipped with collecting survey data and conducting literature reviews; however, they are weak when it comes to preparing a manuscript for publication and writing an abstract. Respondents expressed strong agreement to valuing training in educational research and believed that those who keep up with research are better educators. On the other hand, they disagree that research findings are applicable in real- life contexts. Keywords: Scientific Research, Competencies, Local Higher Education Institution, Gordon College How to cite: Paguio, D.P., & Mendoza, K.J.A. (2022). Scientific research competencies of Gordon College faculty and staff: Basis for three-year strategic action plan. The APO, 5(1), 61-76. https://zenodo.org/doi/10.5281/zenodo.10797478 INTRODUCTION Research paves the way for development. The UNESCO World Declaration on Higher Education for the Twenty-first Century (UNESCO, 1998) acknowledges that knowledge creation, transmission, and application are the lifeblood of the knowledge-based economy. Higher education institutions are among the primary entities tasked to