Research and Extension for the Diocesan Pastoral Planning of the Ecclesiastical Provinces
The University of the Assumption was commissioned to participate in the study along with the other nine equally prestigious Catholic Universities in the Philippines. The study, “An assessment of the diocesan Pastoral Plans in the light of the second Plenary Council of the Philippines” was a national undertaking that commenced in April 2011 and culminated in the reports’ presentation at the Bishops’ regular assembly on January 24, 2012 in Pope Pius Catholic Center, Manila. Assigned to UA was the assessment of the diocesan pastoral plans (DPPs) of the ecclesiastical provinces of Nueva Segovia and Tuguegarao. With the able leadership of the ARO Director, 19 UA faculty-researchers had voluntarily assisted in the assessment of the DPPs. Data were content-analyzed and reports were prepared by research team. Mrs. Dianne Pangilinan and Dr. Ruth Balajadia Ducut took the charge of consolidating and writing the reports covering the two ecclesiastical provinces. Hence, two volumes of research reports were produced and submitted to the CBCP.
Research and Extension for the Filipino Catholic Youth
The National Filipino Catholic Youth Study 2014 is a research project commissioned by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), Episcopal Commission on Youth (ECY) and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) in collaboration with 18 universities and colleges nationwide.
The University of the Assumption is privileged to be one of the lead members of the research team commissioned to undertake the project. The Director of the Research and Planning Office, the Dean of the Graduate School of the University, the Director of the Outreach Ministry, and other administrators became the frontline research collaborators of the project. Services were extended through actual field surveys and the facilitation of focus group discussions among the youth of North Luzon. Data analysis and writing of the findings for North Luzon were assigned to the University of the Assumption through leadership of Dr. Arnel T. Sicat.
Dr. Ruth Balajadia-Ducut, being one of the regional research coordinators was privileged to present at the Plenary of the CEAP National convention in Cebu City in September 2013, at the mid-year Plenary Assembly of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines in Manila in July 2014. Said study was also presented in a number of conferences of educators and youth ministers nationwide. A qualitative study, which an offshoot of the national study entitled,“What in stores for the youth in ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)” was presented by Dr. Arnel T. Sicat and Dr. Ruth Balajadia-Ducut in the National Page Conference at the University of Sto.Tomas.
Research and Extension for the Local Government’s Planning, Policy Making and Program Development
The University of the Assumption in partnership and collaboration with the City Government conducted two surveys, the2009 and the 2013 CSFP Household Socio-Economic Panorama Studiesin all the 35 barangays of the City of San Fernando. The project was fully funded by the City Government of San Fernando, and was signed through a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) between the Mayor Oscar S. Rodriguez and Fr. Joselito C. Henson in the year 2013, the incumbent President of the University in 2013 and Bishop Roberto C. Mallari in the year 2009.
The Academic Research Office (ARO, 2009) /Research Planning Office (RPO, 2013under the leadership of Dr. Arnel T. Sicat and the National Service Training Program (NSTP, 2009 & 2013) under the leadership of Mr. Rio Polintan were the project unit leaders who made the necessary preparations in the conduct of the survey. The NSTP faculty and the freshmen students across programs were formally trained to conduct surveys to all the 35 barangays in the City of San Fernando. They learned the research skills being field supervisors and survey enumerators of the project. But without the unparalleled assistance and support of the leaders of the local government and the barangay units the project would not be a success.
The study provided reliable and relevant updates about the general socio-economic status of the City. Specifically, it provided inputs in improving the City’s economic, health, literacy, shelter, employment and peace and order conditions among the less privileged residents.
Research and Extension for the Archdiocesan Pastoral Planning
The Archdiocese of San Fernando through the Office of the Archbishop, commissioned the University of the Assumption in the conduct of the following survey and assessment studies: (1) Profile of Catholics in Pampanga; (2) Focus Group Discussion with Parish Lay Leaders; (2) Assessment of the Parish Pastoral Plans in the light of the Archdiocesan Integrated Pastoral Plan 4.
The Institute of Theology and Religious Studies (ITRS) under the auspices of Fr. Oliver Yalung and the Research and Planning Office (RPO) under Dr. Arnel T. Sicat,lead the Assumption community in implementing the project. Selected research collaborators across colleges and offices were also involved in the data gathering and analysis of data. Students enrolled in the National Service Training Program participated actively in the conduct of the actualfield survey while faculty-researchers participated in analyzing pertinent data to generate findings and conclusions of the study.The findings of the study were disseminated to the parish priests in three separate clergy assemblies.
Research and Extension for the Information System of Local Barangays
A faculty-funded design study titled, “Barangay Constituents Information System (BCIS): Toward Achieving Organizational Efficiency”, was conducted to develop an automated system for the local barangays. To date, 21 barangays have acquired it and have been utilizing the system software that efficiently facilitates the regular issuing of barangay clearance and other documents. Mr. Jesus Figueroa, the programmer of the BCIS is one of the staff of the Center of Information Technology and Laboratories who continuously improve the system through the user’s feedback of the software.
According to the barangay captains, the system has helped in the facilitation of clerical work, issuance of documents and summarizing the census of the community. Generally, it is one of the systems that has supported the mandate of exercising organization efficiency in the barangay.