Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy, an Associate Professor from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), won the Best Paper Award at the 24th Philippine Computing Science Congress (PCSC). The conference was held from 9 to 11 May 2024 at the De La Salle University—Laguna Campus in Biñan, Laguna. This marks the first time UPOU FICS has participated in the prestigious conference, making the achievement even more remarkable.
His paper, titled “Summarization-Driven Collaborative Filtering for Explainable Recommendation,” introduces a new framework for recommendation systems. These systems, used by platforms such as online stores and streaming services, suggest items users might like. However, such systems often struggle to explain their choices, leaving users wondering why a particular product or movie is recommended. Dr. Pugoy’s research addresses this issue by incorporating “summary-level explanations,” similar to short reviews, into the recommendation process.
Assoc. Prof. Pugoy’s achievement at PCSC 2024 not only highlights the growing importance of explainable AI and the need for research that bridges the gap between cutting-edge technology and user understanding, but also showcases the innovative research coming out of UPOU FICS.
The PCSC is an annual event organized by the Computing Society of the Philippines, providing a platform for researchers, academics, IT professionals, and students to share their latest findings and advancements in computing, computer science, computational science, ICT, and related disciplines. The conference also includes special lectures by prominent researchers and educators.
Contributed by Assoc. Prof. Reinald Pugoy, UPOU FICS
