CVSC’s History and Mandate
The Central Visayas Studies Center was instituted in 1999 to respond to the need for inputs on decision-making on policies affecting the development of Cebu, the region, and the country as a whole; and the need to respond to the challenge of the need to stress the cultural dimension of any meaninguful effort towards self-reliance. It envisions itself to be “the main resource center where the multidisciplinary expertise of UP Cebu College’s faculty is tapped to provide a more holistic approach to understanding problems and issues affectign the province and the region” (UP Gazette, 1999).
The Center was instituted to achieve the following aims (UP Gazette, 1999):
- To conduct research on the following areas of concern: planning and urban concerns, trade and industry, environmental/coastal resource management, food security, skills and education, arts (including performing, visual, and communicatory arts) and culture, gender (including development studies on children), politics and governance, regional history, regional and external linkages, security/peace and order;
- To establish baseline data on the aforementioned areas;
- To establish a library/collection of cultural works of known and lesser known writers and artists who have made significant contributions to cultural life in Cebu and in the region;
- To initiate public fora and dialogues and provide a venue for discussion on socio-economic and political issues; and
- To organize art exhibits, performances such as theater productions and concerts, lectures and workshops on the performing, visual, and communication arts which highlight the distinct Central Visayas culture.
Throughout the years, CVSC has become the Research Office of UP Cebu, in addition to its original mandate. It is the office in charge of making announcements on research and creative work grants, sending research proposals to reviewers and sendign back to comments to research proponents, preparing research contracts, and endorsing applications for research dissemination grants and international publication awards.
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