UNIV in Balanghai

UNIV is an international gathering of university students organized annually by the Italy-based Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria (ICU) since 1968. In the Philippines, the Kalinangan Youth Foundation, Inc. (KALFI) has been ICU’s local counterpart organizing the UNIV National Congresses since 1974.

The yearlong program of UNIV consists of outreach and research projects, conferences, roundtable discussions and lectures revolving around an assigned theme. These activities are meant to foster in the participants a spirit of inquiry and dialogue as well as ideals of service that are characteristic of the university. The UNIV challenge consists of making the participants see that their stay in the university is already an actual and effective service to society. Balanghai serves as one among several Coordinating Centers UNIV activities in Metro Manila.

UNIV at a Glance

UNIV is an annual research study conducted by the Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria (ICU) to dwell on current issues affecting human development where university students could play a decisive role. UNIV stands for universality, with participants coming from a broad variety of countries and cultural backgrounds. Over the years, UNIV assemblies have become a real experience in sharing on the basis of friendship, mutual respect and trust, and love for freedom. This is the essence of the UNIV idea: to awaken university minds to the challenge of service that the world offers to those who have developed an open and universal spirit.

Aim

The aim of the UNIV Congress is to help university students reflect on the cultural situation and to look for practical solutions to the problems of society. It provides a continuing forum to enable university students to appreciate the human challenges confronting the development of peoples and to use their academic specialization in proposing responses to these challenges.

ICU has been promoting UNIV since 1968. These conferences are organized in conjunction with associations, university councils and cultural bodies from more than 50 different countries. They offer an important opportunity for global in-depth studies on cultural issues considered to be the basis of social (and not merely economic-oriented) approach to development cooperation programs.

Methodology

Every year, the Board of Management of ICU formulates an international study based on the directions identified by the previous year’s study. This year, the theme is “Projecting Culture through Music.”

Each UNIV Region consequently formulates a program to carry out the investigation. The methods used include:

• Opinion and attitude surveys
• Interviews with key government and private sector leaders
• Workshops and conferences on the theme
• Form round-table discussions on aspects of the theme
• Action work camps that directly benefit depressed areas in the country

The study culminates in a INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS held in Rome towards the end of the school term. About 4,000 university students and professors attend this congress from Europe, the United States, Canada, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Behind UNIV

UNIV is one of the development projects of the ICU, a Rome-based foundation established in Rome in 1966 for the purpose of furthering scientific and cultural relations at an international level through cooperative activities among universities and professional training agencies. It is a private non-profit association legally recognized in Italy with the approval of the Ministry of Education.

The Department of Development Cooperation in the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has entrusted ICU a number of projects, which relate to university and other professional research and training programs in various African, Latin American and Asian countries. ICU has undertaken similar intentional projects in cooperation with the General Development Office of the European Economic Community (EEC).

UNIV Standard

The aim of UNIV is to encourage an incisive and profound reflection on key issues, which will make students realize their role in society. In this regard, papers submitted to UNIV should have scientific rigor, social relevance and creativity. They should provide an in-depth study of a problem, present it in a new light, and propose a concrete and workable solution. The students may decide to work on a project other than a paper, like a campaign, the delivery of services to depressed areas, etc. These projects should be the result of serious study. They should have originality, cultural and social relevance, and should promote the professional development of the university students involved.

UNIV Through the Years

The following are the themes of the UNIV Congress ever since its inception:

• 2006: Projecting Culture Through Mass Media
• 2005: Projecting Culture Through Music
• 2004: Projecting Culture: the Language of Advertising
• 2003: Building Peace in the 21st Century
• 2002: Study, Work, Service
• 2001: In Search of Human Globalization
• 2000: Faith, History, Science and Culture: 2000 Years On
• 1999: Solidarity and Citizenship: Challenges for the University of the New Century
• 1998: Human Progress and Human Rights
• 1997: Multiculturalism: Competition and Cooperation
• 1996: Communication: Learning to Live
• 1995: Working: Inventing the Future
• 1994: Family and Development
• 1993: Suffering and Happiness
• 1992: Possible Peace: A Challenge for the University
• 1991: Discovery of New Worlds
• 1990: Creativity and the Generation of the 90’s
• 1989: Revolution, Dignity and Solidarity
• 1988: Dignity and Progress
• 1987: World Civilization and Human Culture
• 1986: Cultural Foundations for a Peace Project
• 1985: Youth: Forming the Future
• 1984: The Social Value of Professional Work
• 1983: Study as Work
• 1982: Quality of Study and Quality of Life
• 1981: Science and Meaning of Man
• 1980: The Purpose of Man and the Future of the University
• 1979: Towards a More Humane City
• 1978: Man and Urban Culture
• 1977: The Foundation of the Future
• 1976: Europeans in Spite of Everything
• 1975: The Cultural Limits of Technological Civilization
• 1974: Ideologies and Culture in European Universities
• 1973: Conformism and Creativity: A University Dilemma
• 1972: The Responsibility of the University in a Society in Crisis
• 1971: The Democracy of Universities
• 1970: Teacher-Student Relations in European Universities
• 1969: University of Self-Government
• 1968: Autonomy of Society

The UNIV Post

Here are some excerpts from the UNIV Post which speaks of the theme of each year:

2000: Faith, History, Science and Culture: 2000 Years On

In her intervention, Janne Haaland Matlary, spoke about how we can create a new feminism that allows women to be mothers, professionals and politicians, how women can influence society, and how our feminine values can prevail.