Community Development Services

The goals of the UIC Community Development Service (CDS) for AY 2016-2021 spelled out in the Five–Year Strategic Plan are as follows: Strong and Relevant Institutional Programs to Enhance Quality of Life and Sustainable Programs to Favor the Disadvantaged Sectors of the Society. It commits to service learning, otherwise known as community engagement pedagogy. This is an approach that combines learning goals and community service with instruction, where the reflection to meaningful community services is integrated. Apparently, this teaching and learning strategy enriches the learning experiences of the students as they are taught with civic responsibility. Service learning is a project based teaching and learning strategy, which is integrated into a course or various courses. Students are expected to have a semestral presence in the community. In performing their project, the students have to reflect on their experiences using their course content as their basis for their analysis and understanding. This project leads students to apply course content to community-based activities which eventually gives students experiential opportunities to learn the reality and develop skills of community engagement.

To achieve the said goals, the CDS will continue to enjoin the involvement of the whole institution in the major programs and services of the CDS anchored on the different pillars of Justice and Peace, Ecological Integrity, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation/ Reduction, Gender Equality and Youth Empowerment (JEEPGY) Framework vis-à-vis their skills and/ or interests. With the introduction of the JEEPGY Framework, The pillar programs of Justice and Peace, Ecological Integrity, Engaged Citizenship, Poverty Alleviation, Gender Equality, and Youth Empowerment (JEEPGY) championed by the CEAP showcase Catholic values that encourage a strong commitment to effecting change in society.

UIC has prepared its JEEPGY Framework with line-up programs and services vis-à-vis needs and concerns of its partner communities, agencies, groups, and institutions, where implementers anchor their projects and services based on their specialization or interest. Among these significant programs and services anchored on the pillars of JEEPGY Framework, particularly on Poverty Alleviation or Reduction is the UIC Kaduyog Sagop Kinabuhi Program. This program is the institution’s response to the call of the Church (through the Archdiocese Social Action Center of Davao City) and the institution’s immediate action to the challenge of the government (through the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Davao City) on issues related to drugs