The XUNSTP is a one-year formative process tailored to the capabilities of second year students. Aimed at developing the student’s civic consciousness, the program facilitates student’s formation, which takes off from the Jesuit framework of weaving community service into the threads of the academe. Parallel to the classroom sessions are area work in the different communities of Cagayan de Oro, which are directly facilitated by the partner institutions of XUNSTP. The partnership has a clear orientation and a goal to mobilize the communities; such partnership will set a learning example to students that a community whose members work together can achieve much for its development.
XUNSTP’s work is directed toward the formation of responsible citizens through the three (3) elements of sustainable development – on society, where the value of leadership in community engagement is highlighted; on economy, where the value for work and resources is maximized; and on environment, where the value of respect and care for sustainability of creation is observed.
The mechanics of the program are designed to create an impact to the communities by facilitating activities for the communities such as Catechism, Cultural Program, Political Education Program, Green Campus Agenda (GCA), Traffic Education and Enforcement, Information Education Campaigns (IEC) on Basic Marine Ecology, Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Solid Waste Management, Nursery Management, Scouting Program, Social Entrepreneurship Program, Sustainable Sanitation Assistance, Tutorial Learning Program (Community-based / School-based), Values Education, School Gardening and Youth Savings. Thus, the partnership with the institutions where these engagements take place corresponds to the Research and Social Outreach (RSO) thematic areas on Governance, Health and Sanitation, Environmental Stewardship, Food Security, and Peace and Development.
The implementation of such activities projects shall enrich the students’ sense of responsibility and shall deepen their own analysis of the social situations as they immerse themselves in the communities. It is the goal of the program to allow the students to view and maximize their education as a tool to serve others.
At the outset, the partnership has a clear orientation and a goal to mobilize the communities. The students implement their own community development projects, thereby doing their own share in the barangay development processes. Such partnership will set a learning example for students that a community whose members work together can achieve much for its development.