History of Development Communication in Batangas State University (1992 2000)

Abstract

Absence of written document on what brought the emergence of Development Communication in the Batangas State University unwove the conduct of this study. Historical and oral history research methods with qualitative approach were used to conduct this study. Furthermore, the researchers formulated an interview guide for each set of informants who were chosen via a set of criteria devised before the data gathering was done. Informants of the study were first, the former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences where Development Communication is under, second, the former Faculty Members who taught major subjects in AB Development Communication program of then Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of Technology (PBMIT) during 1992-2000and lastly, selected students of the program. The researchers have undertaken a workshop with a history instructor to be properly trained and taught on how to conduct historical research. Narrative theory was used as a framework in this study. Document and content analyses and coding were also conducted by the researchers to analyze and interpret retrieved historical documents such as curriculum, instruction, and research and collected narratives of the informants. Themes were derived as results of this study. Moreover, introduction of Development Communication Program rooted from the need for students in the College of Arts and Sciences and of PBMIT in general, and that offering of the Development Communication program which is not offered in other universities in Batangas might cause the recruitment of more students for the institution. Moreover, Ms. Rachelle de Chavez, the daughter of Dr. Ernesto de Chavez (the College President of PBMIT during that time), suggested the offering of the Development Communication program in PBMIT. So, through exposures to several Colleges’ degree programs, the administration headed by then Dr. Ernesto de Chavez considered the adoption of the Development Communication program of the UPLB in 1992. It was then offered under the College of Arts and Sciences as a Bachelor of Arts degree.