VSU REI Holds its First Workshop on Gender Responsive Proposals
On May 21-22, 2025, VSU held its first Training Workshop on the drafting of Gender-Responsive Research and Extension Proposals held at the RDE Hall, VSU Main Campus.
The Research Office, in partnership with the Gender and Development Office and the Extension Office, conducted the two-day workshop, facilitated by Prof. Marieta B. Sumagaysay, a veteran social science researcher from the University of the Philippines Visayas, Tacloban College. Prof. Sumagaysay, or ‘MBS,‘ has a Ph.D. in Social Science Research from Leyte Normal University and a specialist in demographic economics and women‘s economic empowerment and gender issues. MBS is particularly recognized for her advocacy of gender-responsive research and development programs.
VSU Vice President for Research, Extension, and Innovation Prof. Santiago T. Peña Jr. showed his support during his welcome address highlighting that this activity aims to enhance the capacity of all VSU faculty researchers and extensionists in designing and conducting gender-responsive extension and research programs. Prof. Peña emphasized the capacitation of the participants on the use of the GAD analysis tools in R&D design, implementation, and monitoring, and the use of sex-disaggregated data and gender statistics in project design.
“As the VSU administration representative, I would like to welcome you to maximize the use of this period while you carry out your research activities, especially in connection with the idea of GAD,” he explained.
Moreover, Ms. Marianne U. Dela Peña, Director of the Gender and Development Office, provided a brief overview of the VSU GAD Research and Extension profile. She reported that VSU is still making strides when it comes to incorporating gender and development in its research and extension efforts. Based on their recent information, the institution already has faculty and extension personnel who is conducting projects credited or linked to gender and development from a wide range of disciplines—agriculture, education, engineering, social sciences, health, and technology.
From the latest inventory, VSU counts more than 130 faculty researchers and extensionists who are directly involved in, making contributions to, or heading projects with gender considerations. These are completed and proposed projects, which reflect our growing institutional commitment to inclusive, gender-responsive development.
However, Ms. Dela Peña added that although the university had a good start in the integration of GAD, much more remains to be accomplished in institutionalizing a gender perspective in VSU’s actual research and development program. Therefore, one of the strategic reactions to this is the training workshop on the Preparation of Gender-Responsive Research and Extension Proposals.
“On behalf of the Gender and Development Office, we would like to thank the Research Office, headed by Director Prof. Ivy C. Emnace, the Extension Office, headed by Dr. Catherine C. Arradaza, and the rest of the OVPREI personnel for their contribution to making this undertaking possible,” she added.
The resource person divided the training workshop into three main parts. During the first day, MBS talked about the gender building blocks, GAD imperatives, gender mainstreaming, and the significance of gender in extension and research programs. During this lecture, MBS utilized a participative methodology in the presentation of the session, including the provision of short quizzes between topics of lectures using Google Survey Forms and Mentimeter. During the afternoon session, MBS opened the Gender analysis workshop with a discussion of the harmonized gender and development guidelines.
On the final day, MBS addressed the topic of Sex-Disaggregated Data (SDD). It was pointed out that sex-disaggregated data collection is a key pillar for achieving gender mainstreaming. These SDD inputs are anticipated to provide a foundation for the development of the VSU sex-disaggregated database to be utilized by RDE.
This workshop is in line with the institution’s vision to enhance gender sensitivity and equal opportunities for everyone in Research, Extension, and Innovation (REI) staff and stakeholders.
