NDMU Computer Studies Department Researchers Present Two Innovative Studies at ICITACEE 2026 in Bali, Indonesia

Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) proudly showcased its research capabilities on the international stage as two papers from the Computer Studies Department of the College of Engineering, Architecture, and Computing (CEAC) were presented virtually during the 13th International Conference on Information Technology, Computer, and Electrical Engineering (ICITACEE 2026), held on September 9–11, 2026, in Bali, Indonesia.

Representing the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) and Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) programs, the researchers presented innovative technology-driven studies addressing indigenous language preservation and the challenges of finding safe and reliable rental accommodations.

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Advancing Indigenous Language Technology through Artificial Intelligence

Representing the BSCS program, Chrissandra Marchelle L. Bautista, Crislyn Joy D. Delgado, and Vince Marc B. Sabado presented their research entitled “End-to-End Transformer-Based Speech-to-Text Neural Machine Translation for the Low-Resource Tboli-English Language Pair.”

The study developed an Android application that translates spoken Tboli into English text through a fully automated pipeline combining Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Machine Translation (MT). The research utilized 4,650 speech recordings from 17 native speakers in Lake Sebu to fine-tune Whisper-large-v3 for speech recognition and mBART for machine translation, covering 310 Tboli-English word and phrase pairs.

The researchers further refined the translation model using Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) through Direct Preference Optimization (DPO), incorporating feedback from 11 native speakers. The prototype obtained a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 70.42 from six participants, exceeding the standard benchmark of 68 and supporting its initial practical usability for the Tboli community.

While the study focused on a fixed, closed-vocabulary scope, it represents a meaningful step toward developing accessible language technologies that can contribute to the digital preservation and representation of indigenous Philippine languages.

RuMe: Transforming the Search for Rental Accommodations

Representing the BSIT program, Apple Mico A. Dondiego, Earl Kristian Lance L. Ortiz, Yhl John H. Sayson, and Vince Marc B. Sabado presented their research entitled “RuMe: A Smart Mobile Solution for Accommodation Seekers to Find and Secure Verified Boarding Houses and Apartments.”

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The study addressed the challenges faced by accommodation seekers in the Philippines, where rental listings are often scattered across online platforms and may require time-consuming manual inquiries. In response, the researchers developed RuMe, a mobile application designed to help users find and reserve verified boarding houses and apartments while providing property owners with tools to promote and manage their listings.

RuMe features AI-enhanced property search, listing verification, in-app payments and payouts, real-time notifications, detailed property listings with feedback, and inquiry options. The system was developed through five stages: requirements gathering, system design, development, integration, and evaluation using the System Usability Scale (SUS).

Usability testing involved 40 participants, consisting of 20 property owners and 20 accommodation seekers. The application obtained SUS scores of 65.75 from property owners and 80 from accommodation seekers, with both results interpreted as acceptable. These findings indicate that RuMe meets its intended usability and functional requirements and demonstrates potential as a practical platform for simplifying accommodation search and property management in the local rental market.

Strengthening Research and Innovation at the International Level

The presentation of these two studies highlights the diverse research interests and technological capabilities of the Computer Studies Department. The BSCS research demonstrates the application of artificial intelligence to a culturally significant language technology challenge, while the BSIT research presents a practical mobile solution to improve access to rental accommodations.

ICITACEE 2026 provided a premier forum for researchers, academics, professionals, and students to exchange ideas, disseminate research findings, and explore cutting-edge developments in information technology, computer systems, electronics, telecommunications, control, and electrical engineering. The conference also fostered cross-disciplinary collaboration in addressing global challenges through innovation and research.

The conference was organized by the Electrical Engineering Department of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Diponegoro, and technically co-sponsored by the IEEE Indonesia Section. The presented papers are intended for publication in the IEEE conference proceedings, with Scopus indexing subject to the applicable publication and indexing processes.

Through their virtual participation, the researchers of Notre Dame of Marbel University extended the university’s academic presence beyond the Philippines and contributed to the international exchange of knowledge in computing and information technology.

This achievement reflects the university’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, and the development of technology-based solutions that address both local and global challenges.

Congratulations to the researchers and their mentors for representing Notre Dame of Marbel University at ICITACEE 2026!