The Institute of Women's Studies 

     The St. Scholastica’s College adopted social orientation for its education mission in the seventies, a period that saw birth of the women’s movement in the Philippines. In 1985, celebrating its 10th year of promoting education for social transformation, the school initiated a Women’s Studies program. Women active in the women’s movement came together to work out the objectives and syllabus of an Introductory Course on Women’s Studies. The enthusiastic response the course generated led to its incorporation in the College’s General Education program for the tertiary level – the course was made a requirement for graduation.

     The following year, the College obtained a permit to offer a Cognate Course on Women’s Studies. It established the Institute of Women’s Studies as an affiliate unit on the college in 1988.

     The Institute is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of 10 women, all well-respected in their fields of specialization. Its Director is Sr. Mary John Mananzan, OSB. It maintains eight full-time staff members and a number of consultants.

GOALS

  • awaken a consciousness to and provide an understanding of the woman question through a strategy of formal (institutional) and non-formal alternative education; and
  • engage in research and study on gender issues, and projects that uphold the cause of women; and
  • conduct outreach programs that serve women outside the formal educational institution.

NURSIA

     Nursia was the birthplace of St. Scholastica and St. Benedict. It was also the name given to the three-storey home of the Institute when this was constructed in 1990.

Facilities:

  • Conference hall (80-person capacity)
  • Library and reading room
  • Viewing/listening room
  • Dormitory (single and double rooms for a total of 30 persons)
  • Pension rooms for paying guests (with air-condition and private bath)
  • Dining room (can be converted into another function room for 30 persons)
  • Solidarity store of crafts, publications and other works made by women

     Nursia also houses the staff offices of the Institute. It is intended principally for in-house courses, seminars and soirees, but some facilities can also be rented by women’s organizations and NGOs, depending on availability.

     Initially created to provide support to the Institute’s own programs as well as to the women’s studies courses of St. Scholastica’s College, the Resource Center now services students and teachers of other schools in Metro Manila, in addition to staff of women’s organizations. The Center specializes in women’s studies and religion. The Center’s print collection exceeds 1,000 titles, including some 50 periodicals. The audio-visual materials range in scope from documentaries on indigenous women to contemporary films that explore women’s relationships.

 

For inquiries, please contact:

Institute of Women’s Studies

931 Estrada Street, Malate

Manila, Philippines

Tel: 63-2-5223551

Fax: 63-2-5230693

Email: iwsmnl@yahoo.com, iws@ssc.edu.ph 

 


St. Scholastica's College, Manila
For more information, send
e-mail to sscinfo@ssc.edu.ph

Updated:
Tuesday, March 21, 2006