Schools as Champions for Social Accountability

by Chad Osorio

The author with CHED Chairperson Dr. Patricia Licuanan

24 April 2014 — ANSA-EAP was invited by the World Bank as an interested Civil Society Organization (CSO) for the KDC Meeting 2014. Knowledge Development Centers (KDCs) are policy institutions and universities, in partnership with the World Bank, which organize knowledge exchange about development issues.

The participants of the activity are the presidents and heads of universities and institutions, heads of the research department or outreach and community extension program, KDC coordinators, and KDC information officers. Development partners, select government agencies and civil society organizations also participated in the activity.

The Meeting, entitled “Exploring Approaches to Community Engagement,” highlighted the results of a study conducted by the World Bank, with support from the Government of Australia, on the approaches to community engagement of universities (ACE-U). The activity also provided a venue to discuss the programs of selected government agencies and identify opportunities for KDCs to participate in those programs. In particular, it focused on the current status of the community engagement programs of the universities in the country and the assistance of different partners to bridge the knowledge gaps and provide a better knowledge platform to their local communities.