Academe-Led Social Responsibility Programs and Women Empowerment in a University- Partner Community: A Correlational Study

Abstract

This quantitative and qualitative study determined the relationship between the academe-led social responsibility programs and the women's self-perceived level of empowerment in a University-Partner Community. The perceived effects of the programs were drawn from the themes generated through the in-depth personal interviews, and focus group discussions conducted with the women residents in Southville I, Cabuyao, Laguna,  a partner community of Adamson University. Respondents' perception with regard to the programs were also taken and correlated with the respondents' self-perceived level of empowerment in the areas of decision-making autonomy, mobility and networking, economic independency, and exercise of rights. The findings revealed that a significant relationship exists between the academe-led social responsibility programs such as values formation; savings mobilization; and community development and the women's decision-making autonomy, and economic independency. The capacity building programs, on the other hand, was significantly related to the women's economic independency. The study further revealed that among others, the effects generated by the university-led social responsibility programs are improved self-confidence, improved participation in family decisions and augmentation of financial resources for the respondents' families.