Master Course Diaconic Management arrived in Dumaguete/Philippines
University as a centre for emergency help
By: Angelika Veddeler
Two students of the Master Course present their work at Dumaguete University.
The third module of the international Master Course Diaconic Management started at Silliman University Dumaguete/Philippines, whose efficient infrastructure is presently being used for the distribution of relied aid for victims of the recent floodings in the area.
The twelve students from Tanzania, Ghana, the Democratic Republic Congo, Indonesia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka arrived in Manila on 3rd January. They started the module by visiting several social institutions of the "United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)", for example the school for children living on the garbage-hills of Smokey Mountain", the programme for women working as prostitutes in Manila, or the Christian International School.
On 9th January, the group of students travelled on to Dumaguete City. Here, lectures and seminars are held during a period of three weeks, offerend jointly with professors from the Divinity School and the "School of Public Affairs and Governance" of Silliman Univeristy. Thematic focus areas are "Theology in the context of the Philippines", "Normative Management in the Context of Society " and "Culturally-Sensitive and Inter-Cultural Management". On 9th January, Bishop Erme Camba, former Dean of the Divinity School, opened the floor. He introduced the students into the history of the Philippines and the "Theology of Struggle". "It is of decisive importance that we are aware of the perspective from which we look at a situation. As a church we have decided to take on the perspective of the poor and the marginalized here in the Philippines", he declared.
During a reception for the whole group, Professor Ben Malayang III., the President of Silliman University, reported the social endeavours of his university, e.g. in the emergency help for flood victims. "You can see that diaconic management is in high demand everywhere", he told the students. Dr. Rey Rivera, Dean of the "School of Public Administration and Governance" (SPAG) of Silliman University, underlined the interdisciplinarity of the Master Course: "Diaconic Management can only be executed? Implemented? Done? with the competences of different fields of expertise", he stated in his introduction. The module will be completed end-January after a second phase of scientific internships and with an interim exam.
The preceeding modules had taken place at Stellenbosch University/South Africa in August/September 2011 and in May/ June 2011 in Bethel/Germany. After these, students had returned into their home countries and had written papers on "The St. Gallen Management Model" and "Styles of Leadership". During these phases, they remained in contact and communicated with each other and with the lecturers via Internet. The next module is scheduled for April/May 2012 at the Sebastian Kolowa University College in Tanzania.
The international Master Course is being organized and led by the Institute for Diaconic Science and DiaconicManagement of the Protestant University Wuppertal/Bethel (IDM) and the United Evangelical Mission (UEM). Professor Martin Büscher (Programme Direktor, IDM), Katharina Kleine Vennekate (IDM) und Angelika Veddeler (UEM) lead the course and accompany the students. Dr. Victor Aguilan, lecturer at the Divinity School, is the contact partner from the side of Silliman University.