Xavier University, together with 17 other colleges and universities in the country, participated in the 1st Service Learning Conference held at the University of St La Salle in Bacolod City on September 28-29, 2012.

The conference, focusing on the theme, “Service-Learning in the Philippines: Challenges, Lessons, and Ways Forward,” was sponsored by the New York-based United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia, which advocates Service-Learning in enhancing students’ learning and empowering community stakeholders.

Engr Ermin Stan B Pimentel, KKP Director and fore-runner of XU-SLP, was one of the resource persons in the conference.  Pimentel presented how XU has been doing Service-Learning and how the Service-Learning Framework has been very effective in enhancing teaching, learning, and serving the partner communities.

Common to all participating communities are the challenges on full faculty support and engagement, funding and logistics, strategic institutionalization, program sustainability, community preparation and impact assessment, to name a few.

The conference identified possible ways to forward Service-Learning.  These are to (1) create a culture of social formation and popularization of SLP in the universities, (2) set up criteria for SLP engagement and design realistic targets, (3) ensure integration/collaboration among academic programs under SLP, (4) create a meaningful and authentic experience in the community, (5) enhance skills and capabilities of program officers and SL practitioners, train trainers, (6) celebrate SLP achievements and recognize champions, and (7) create national/international network of Service-Learning.

Other participating institutions in the conference were the other Ateneos in Davao, Manila and Zamboanga, Central Philippine University, Eastern College of Baguio, Fellowship Baptist College, Miriam College, Pilgrim Christian College, San Beda College, Silliman University, Southern Christian College, St. Scholastica’s College, Trinity University of Asia, La Salle Manila and La Salle Bacolod.

The participating colleges and universities instituted the Service-Learning Philippine Network which links Service-Learning practitioners in the country.  The new network identified Ateneo de Davao University as host of the 2nd National Conference in 2014.

Kristohanong Katilingban sa Pagpakabana – Social Involvement Office (KKP-SIO) through Wilson J Hormeguera, Nestor M Banuag, and Engr Ermin Stan B Pimentel represented Xavier at the conference.