Asian Social Institute

The Asian Social Institute (ASI) is a graduate school in Manila, Philippines that is simultaneously engaged in integrated developmental action programs to uplift communities and marginalized sectors. It is one of the few graduate institutes specializing in economics,sociology, social work and social services and development in the country.

Asian Social Institute (ASI), a Manila-based Graduate School of Social Transformative Praxis was established in 1962 by a Dutch Catholic Missionary of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), the late Rev. Fr. Francis Senden, Ph. D. Started with the blessings of the late Rufino Cardinal Santos, D. D. of the Archdiocese of Manila, ASI’s purpose was to form and train social science based social development managers for Asia and the Pacific in order to implement in different socio-cultural religious contexts the social teachings of the Church.

Since the passing of its founder in 1973, ASI has continued to work toward the fulfillment of its vision of justice, peace and integrity of creation. Ensuring its social rootedness, it provides a learning environment which is structured recently in two interacting departments - Academe-Research, and Social Development. On top of these two departments is the President's Office to whom report Communication and Publication, MIS, Promotions and Public Relations, and various administrative units. The President of ASI is Dr. Mina M. Ramirez. Academe-Research is headed by the Vice President for Academe-Research and Academic Dean, Dr. Villamor Vital. The acting Vice President of the Social Development Department is Dr. Gina A. Yap.

ASI's thrust as a graduate school of social transformative praxis is to contribute to an experientially and a culturally based theory of social transformation, giving importance to people and their essential relationships as well as to the creation of a social climate which enables persons to achieve their full human potentials. This thrust implies a method of learning where life contexts serve as learning environments.

The Academe-Research integrates theory and practice, while the Social Development Department grounds the students' learning in marginal communities through ASI's Action Subsidiaries - Family Center, Urban Community Desk, Tent School, Diocesan Accompaniment, Youth Accompaniment, ASI Enterprise Center and its NGO networks. ASI's Communication and Publication activities provide for relevant approaches to communicating transformative ideas.

Academic programs

The Institute offers the following academic programs:

• Graduate programs
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Cosmic Anthropology
  • Master of Science in Sociology
  • Master of Science in Sociology major in Pastoral Studies
  • Master of Science in Sociology major in Pastoral Sociology
  • Master of Science in Education
  • Master in Social Services and Development
  • Master of Science in Economics
  • Master of Science in Social Work
• Undergraduate program (Only as a second undergraduate degree)
  • Bachelor of Science in Social Work (1 year program for college graduates)
• Short courses
  • International Diploma Course for Community Development Workers (IDCCDW)
  • Phenomenology: Principles, Methods, and Applications in Research
  • Paralegal Seminar
  • Project Planning and Development
  • Training for Community Extension
  • Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Workshops
  • Educators' ICT Briefing on Strategic e-Services

Prominent alumni

Some of the institute's notable alumni include:

• Dr. Mina M. Ramirez - the authority on Phenomenology in the Philippines and Asia and a founding member of the Pontifical Academy of the Social Sciences, The Vatican.
• Dr. Epitacio S. Palispis - Vice President for Academics of Trinity University of Asia, President of the Philippine Association of Graduate Educators - NCR, and President of the Association of Christian Schools Colleges and Universities Accrediting Agency Inc. (ACSCU-AAI)
• Dr. Villamor Vital - former President of the Worldwide Investment Management Company of the Philippines (WINVEST), was Economist and Consultant in various projects of Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and UNCTAD/ESCAP, and advocate of Philippine capital markets development.
• Jaime Licauco - Founder and President, Inner Mind Development Institute
• Dr. Mario P. Lamberte - former President, Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), prolific writer of economic articles in various international journals.
• Professor Seung Young Lee - Dean, College of Business Administration, Dongguk University, Seoul, Korea
• Dr. Paul Dejillas - Social Thinker and Lecturer on Mediated Economics, the Informal Sector, and Globalization.

External links

• Asian Social Institute
• Asian Social Institute's Multiply Site
• Villamor's Site