CSWCD Holds Seminar on Area Development Studies with Nihon Fukushi University
Despite inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon, the College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) of the University of the Philippines Diliman successfully conducted the Seminar on Area Development Studies: Philippines from 17 to 21 August 2026. The seminar brought together seven graduate students from the International Social Development Program of Nihon Fukushi University Graduate School of International Social Development (NFU-ISD), Japan, for a week of classroom discussions, community immersion, and reflection.
With the theme “Ugnayan: Communities and Collective Action for People-Centered Futures,” the seminar emphasized the importance of participation, local knowledge, social justice, and collective action in building sustainable and inclusive communities. Through a combination of lectures, community engagements, and field visits, participants gained a deeper understanding of people-centered development in the Philippine context.
The first two days of the seminar were devoted to classroom sessions at CSWCD. The opening day introduced participants to the Philippine social, political, and development context, highlighting its similarities and differences with Japan. Discussions also focused on the principles and practice of people-centered development. On the second day, representatives from partner communities shared their experiences in organizing and advocating for the rights and welfare of peasant, urban poor, and coastal communities.
The seminar then moved beyond the classroom to community-based learning. On the third day, participants visited the Las Piñas Persons with Disability Federation, Inc., where they learned about the organization’s programs, advocacy work, and community initiatives supporting persons with disabilities.
The fourth day was spent in Tungkong Mangga, San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, with the farmers’ organization SASAMAG. Participants joined the farmers in production work and learned firsthand about the community’s organizing efforts, sustainable farming practices, and the challenges faced by smallholder farmers.
The seminar concluded on the fifth day with a reflection and processing session, where participants shared their insights and discussed key lessons from the week’s activities. The session encouraged participants to connect their field experiences with broader concepts of area development and collective action.
The Seminar on Area Development Studies continues to serve as a platform for academic exchange between CSWCD and NFU, providing students with opportunities to learn directly from Philippine communities and development practitioners while strengthening international cooperation in social development education. ##
