Cebu Normal University

From classrooms to communities, CNU is united in advancing the SDGs through collaboration and compassion.

CNU Advances International Best Practices in HIV Prevention through Project SHIP

Cebu Normal University (CNU) continues to strengthen international collaboration and research partnerships to address the growing HIV epidemic in the Philippines through Project SHIP (School-based HIV Initiatives in the Philippines), demonstrating how collaborative research, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based approaches can contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Led by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA, under the direction of Assistant Professor Dr. James Montegrico, Project SHIP is an international institutional collaboration involving Philippine higher education institutions committed to developing sustainable, school-based HIV prevention initiatives. The project advances SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by promoting international cooperation, collaborative research, institutional capacity-building, and the sharing of evidence-based approaches to addressing public health challenges.

Advancing Collaborative Research and Evidence-Based Best Practices

Project SHIP provides a platform for participating universities to share expertise, examine existing HIV prevention approaches, and develop research-informed strategies responsive to the Philippine context. The framework integrates international research expertise with local institutional knowledge to strengthen HIV education, prevention, and community engagement.

In November 2024, CNU completed a university-wide assessment of HIV knowledge and attitudes among students, faculty, and staff, in collaboration with UNCC. This research provides an evidence base for identifying knowledge gaps and developing targeted, sustainable interventions within higher education institutions.

CNU also contributed to the international collaborative research publication, “HIV Preventive Interventions and Research in the Philippines: Proposals from a Scoping Review of Contributing Factors,” published in the Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care in March 2025. Conducted in partnership with researchers from UNCC, Visayas State University, and Hallym University in South Korea, the study examined HIV prevention interventions and contributing factors, generating research-based recommendations to inform future programs and public health responses.

Translating International Research into Local Policy Development

A significant achievement of Project SHIP is the translation of collaborative research into local policy development in Cebu City.

In April 2025, findings from two collaborative HIV research publications involving CNU, UNCC, and Visayas State University were utilized by the Cebu City Local Youth Development Council and Cebu City Population Development in drafting and amending two resolutions aimed at addressing the rising incidence of HIV in Cebu City.

By connecting international research collaboration with local government action, Project SHIP demonstrates how universities can contribute to addressing pressing community health challenges through multi-stakeholder engagement, research-based policy development, and the application of scientific knowledge to local development priorities.

Institutionalizing HIV Prevention through Project SHIP Launching and Orientation

On June 10, 2025, CNU, through its Research Institute for Ageing and Health (RIAH), spearheaded the official launching and orientation of Project SHIP, marking a significant milestone in the University’s commitment to institutionalizing sustainable, school-based HIV prevention initiatives.

The activity strengthened CNU’s engagement in the international partnership by introducing the project’s collaborative framework and promoting the integration of research, health education, and community engagement into institutional HIV prevention efforts.

This milestone represented an important step in advancing Project SHIPs goal of establishing a network of academic institutions that champion HIV awareness, promote inclusive health education, and contribute to the development of effective HIV prevention practices.

Strengthening International Knowledge Exchange through the Global Connect Lecture Series

Building on the successful launching of Project SHIP, CNU further strengthened its collaboration with UNCC through the Global Connect: Lecture Series, conducted on August 15, 2025, as part of the University’s ASEAN Month Celebration.

Led by the Office for International Affairs & Services (OIAS) under the theme, “Global Citizens, ASEAN Roots,” the virtual lecture featured Dr. Montegrico who delivered a presentation titled “HIV in the ASEAN Context: Focus on the Philippine HIV Landscape – Trends, Contributing Factors, and Recommendations.”

The lecture provided an avenue for international knowledge exchange and the discussion of HIV trends, contributing factors, and research-informed recommendations within the ASEAN and Philippine contexts. 

Held in line with Proclamation No. 282, s. 2017, declaring August as ASEAN Month, the lecture also reinforced CNU’s commitment to regional cooperation and global citizenship. As one of the OIAS’s flagship programs, Global Connect advances the University’s internationalization-at-home best practices by providing opportunities for the CNU community to engage with international experts, exchange perspectives, and participate in discussions addressing shared regional and global concerns.

Building Global Partnerships for Local and Sustainable Impact

CNU’s participation in Project SHIP reflects the University’s commitment to leveraging international collaboration, joint research, knowledge transfer, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to advance sustainable development.

From collaborative research and contributions to local policy development to the institutional launching of Project SHIP and the Global Connect Lecture Series, CNU demonstrates how international partnerships can generate meaningful academic, institutional, and community-level contributions.

 

CNU Advances Inclusive Community Education through the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program

Cebu Normal University (CNU) strengthens its commitment to inclusive education and sustainable community development through its partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in its 2025 implementation of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, a community-based educational initiative that addresses literacy gaps among children while empowering families and developing future educators.

As the higher education institution tapped by DSWD for the program’s implementation in Cebu City, CNU mobilizes its pre-service teachers to serve as tutors and Youth Development Workers, extending educational support beyond the university and into local communities. For instance, the Main Campus contributed 421 tutors and 273 Youth Development Workers (YDWs) to the 2025 implementation, demonstrating the University’s strong commitment to community-based literacy development, inclusive education, and student volunteerism. Through this partnership, CNU contributes to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by working with government institutions to deliver educational interventions that respond to community needs.

The program directly advances SDG 4: Quality Education by promoting foundational literacy and access to inclusive, equitable learning opportunities. It also supports SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by directing educational assistance toward learners who face barriers to academic achievement, including children from disadvantaged communities. Beyond its immediate benefits to learners, the program provides CNU’s future educators with meaningful opportunities for experiential learning, community service, and social responsibility. It connects teacher education with real-world literacy needs, enabling student-tutors to apply their pedagogical knowledge while developing empathy, leadership, and a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by underserved learners.

This initiative also received recognition through DSWD’s Trailblazer Partnership Award, acknowledging CNU’s contribution to nation-building through collaborative social development initiatives. 

Through Tara, Basa!, CNU demonstrates how government-university partnerships can deliver dedicated educational outreach to the wider community, strengthen foundational learning, empower families, and promote more equitable access to education. 

 

CNU Strengthens NGO Collaboration to Advance Literacy through Minds on Wheels

Cebu Normal University also advances inclusive and equitable education through its partnership with Minds on Wheels, a nonprofit foundation dedicated to promoting literacy and educational equity. The collaboration supports the implementation of Accelerating Literacy through Minds on Wheels: A Collaborative Reading Project, a research-based community extension initiative designed to improve elementary learners’ vocabulary, reading comprehension, and access to quality reading materials.


Formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement in July 2025, the partnership brings together CNU’s expertise in teacher education and Minds on Wheels’ mobile library and literacy advocacy to address reading difficulties among elementary learners. The initiative demonstrates the University’s commitment to SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by working directly with a nongovernmental organization as well as public education stakeholders to develop and implement community-based educational interventions.

The project’s first phase was launched on November 21, 2025 at Labangon Elementary School in Cebu City, targeting 50 learners from Grades 3 to 5 who required additional support in reading comprehension. Through structured, story-based reading sessions, participating learners engage in vocabulary-building exercises and comprehension activities designed to strengthen foundational literacy skills. The Minds on Wheels mobile library also provides access to books and supplementary learning materials, encouraging independent reading and fostering a culture of literacy within the school community.

An important component of the collaboration is the participation of CNU student-teacher volunteers, who support the delivery of reading activities and apply their pedagogical knowledge in an authentic community setting. Under the guidance of CTE faculty members, the initiative connects student volunteerism with research-informed teaching practices, strengthening both community engagement and the professional development of future educators.

 

The collaboration contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education, particularly the promotion of foundational literacy and meaningful learning opportunities for children, as well as SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities by directing literacy support and learning resources toward children experiencing reading difficulties, helping address disparities in educational opportunities. 

Through Accelerating Literacy through Minds on Wheels, Cebu Normal University demonstrates its commitment to building meaningful partnerships to address sustainable development challenges. By integrating student volunteerism, research-based literacy activities, and shared educational resources, CNU contributes to SDG 17, while advancing interconnected goals of quality education, educational equity, and inclusive community development under SDGs 4 and 10.

CNU continues to make significant progress in partnership with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Barangay San Antonio in Boljoon, implementing the “From Farm to Market: Co-creating the Cinnamon Industry in Cebu, Philippines “ project under the NEDA National Innovation Grant 2024. In addition to strengthening community-based enterprise development and environmental stewardship through science- driven capacity building, this initiative aims to uplift cinnamon growers by enhancing sustainable cultivation, creative product development, and local market integration for Cinnamomum mindanaense, or “ mana.”

The project’ s main results include farmer ’ s training on sustainable and innovative harvesting practices, skills enhancement on cinnamon-based development, stakeholders meeting for policy consultation, training workshop for the development of cinnamon-based educational materials and cultural presentations, and the current building of a cinnamon processing facility in Alegria, Cebu. Through this partnership, CNU advance sustainable resource management and knowledge exchange. This collaboration ensures the growth of the cinnamon industry to remain inclusive, community driven, and environmentally responsible.

From Farm to Market: Co-creating the Cinnamon Industry in Cebu

FOSTERING INTERNATIONAL DIALOGUE AND SUSTAINABILITY-ORIENTED HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

POSTS & UPDATES

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Cebu Normal University
PRIVACY POLICY

Policy Statement

This Privacy Policy is adopted in compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173), its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), and other relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission (NPC). The University is committed to protecting and respecting your personal data privacy. We process personal information in accordance with the principles of transparency, legitimate purpose, and proportionality. This Policy informs how we collect, use, disclose, store, protect, and dispose personal information of our data subjects.

Definitions

Personal information refers to any information, whether recorded in a material form or not, from which the identity of an individual is apparent or can be reasonably and directly ascertained by the entity holding the information or when put together with other information that would directly and certainly identify an individual.

Sensitive information is a type of personal information with the risk of discrimination against the Data Subject. These are about an identifiable person’s racial or ethnic origin, marital status, color, and religious, philosophical, or political affiliations. It is also, about an individual’s health, education, the genetic or sexual life of person, or any proceeding for any offense committed or alleged to have been committed by such person, the disposal of such proceedings, or the sentence of any court in such proceedings; Issued by government agencies peculiar to an individual which includes, but not limited to, social security numbers, previous or current health records, licenses or its denials, suspension or revocation, and tax returns; and specifically established by an executive order or an act of Congress to be kept classified.

Privileged information refers to any and all forms of data which under the Rules of Court and other pertinent laws constitute privileged communication.

Information We Collect

The University may collect personal information in the context of its regular functions — including but not limited to the following categories:

  1. Students: contact and enrollment details, academic records, health or medical records, accommodation records, student-activity participation, and related data.
  2. Staff and job applicants: contact details, employment history, qualifications, employee-related data.
  3. Alumni profiling: contact and demographic details.
  4. Visitors, volunteers, and other stakeholders: information collected through sign-in forms, CCTV or security monitoring, photos or recordings during official events, surveys, and feedback forms.

Collection may occur by any medium, including: paper forms, electronic forms, email, website or online platforms, CCTV or video/photographic capture, surveys/questionnaires, and other lawful means.

Purposes and Uses of the Data Collected and Processed

Personal information collected may be used for:

  1. Administration of admission, enrollment, employment, alumni relations, and other official functions.
  2. Maintenance of student and employee records, including academic, health, and administrative data.
  3. Provision of University services such as counseling, scholarship administration, placement, library access, facilities use, laboratory access, security, parking, and accommodation.
  4. Internal research, quality assurance, performance monitoring, and institutional planning.
  5. Compliance with statutory obligations (e.g. reporting to government agencies when required).
  6. Security, safety, and campus management, including CCTV monitoring.

Legal Basis / Lawful Criteria for Processing

All processing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the legality, fairness, and lawfulness requirements under the Data Privacy Act and IRR.
Where applicable, processing is grounded on consent, contract, legal obligation, legitimate interest, or other lawful bases recognized under the law. The choice of lawful basis depends on the nature of data, the purpose of processing, and legal or contractual requirements.

Manner of Collection and Processing

Personal data may be collected through physical forms (paper-based), electronic forms, online or web-based platforms (e.g., registration portals, email, institutional website), CCTV or video/photo capture (for security or surveillance), event sign-in sheets or registration forms, surveys or questionnaires, or other legitimate and lawful means.

Processing may include collection, recording, sorting, storing, retrieval, use, updating, modification, blocking, destruction or other operations as allowed under the law, consistent with declared purposes.

Disclosure of Information

The University does not disclose personal information except under the following circumstances:

  1. Internal disclosure within authorized University personnel, only when necessary and appropriate for legitimate institutional purposes.
  2. External disclosure only when required or permitted by law (e.g. statutory obligations), or when the data subject has provided valid consent.
  3. Sensitive personal information or privileged information is processed and disclosed only in accordance with relevant legal provisions.

Risks, Safeguards and Security Measures

The University recognizes that processing of personal data entails certain privacy and security risks. Accordingly, we implement appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of personal data — whether in electronic or physical form. Such measures include (but are not limited to):

  1. Access controls (both digital and physical) to restrict access only to authorized personnel
  2. Use of secure storage: locked filing cabinets or secure rooms for physical records; password-protected systems, encryption, secure servers, firewalls for electronic data
  3. Secure transmission of data (when shared or transferred), secure printing and disposal protocols, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed
  4. Classification of data and periodic review of security protocols, to ensure adequacy in light of the risks presented and sensitivity of the data processed

Rights of Data Subjects

Under the Data Privacy Act and its IRR, data subjects have the following rights:

  1. Right to be informed — you have the right to know whether personal information about you will be, is being, or has been processed; the purposes of processing; the personal data to be entered; and the scope and method of processing.
  2. Right to access, correct, or update your data — you may request access to your personal information, ask for rectification of inaccuracies, or request updates.
  3. Right to object or withdraw consent — when processing is based on consent or legitimate interest, you may withdraw consent or object, subject to legal limits.
  4. Right to data portability — where applicable, you may obtain a copy of your personal data in a secure and portable format for transfer to another controller.
  5. Right to erasure or blocking — if personal data is incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or processed, no longer necessary, or processing is unauthorized, you may request erasure or blocking, subject to legitimate grounds for retention (e.g. legal obligations or defense of legal claims).
  6. Right to damages — you may seek indemnification for damages resulting from inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, unlawfully obtained or unauthorized use of your personal data.
  7. Right to lodge a complaint with the NPC if you believe your data privacy rights have been violated.

Requests for access, rectification, objection, portability, erasure or complaints may be submitted in writing to the University’s designated Data Protection Officer (DPO) or Data Privacy Office.

Security, Retention, and Disposal

The University implements appropriate organizational, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard personal data — whether in paper or electronic form — against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Such measures include: secure storage (locked filing cabinets or rooms), restricted access to authorized personnel only, use of locked screens/screensavers, secure transmission (sealed envelopes or secure electronic transmission), secure printing and disposal of documents, and safe deletion or destruction of data when no longer needed.

Personal data will be retained only for as long as necessary to fulfill the declared and legitimate purposes, or as required for legal obligations or defense of legal claims. When no longer needed, personal data will be disposed of securely in accordance with University policy and relevant data-protection guidelines.

Consent, Notice, and Legitimate Processing

Where required by law, consent will be obtained from data subjects prior to collection or processing of their personal or sensitive data. In other cases (e.g. CCTV monitoring, legitimate interest), the University will inform data subjects through appropriate notice mechanisms before or at the time of data collection. Privacy notice(s) will accompany data-collection forms or be posted in conspicuous campus areas, and on the University website. At all times, data processing is based on legitimate purpose and proportional to the need.

Data Subject Access and Contact

To exercise your rights or if you have any inquiry, concern, or request regarding your personal data, please contact:

Omar B. Roma

Data Protection Officer
Email: dpo@cnu.edu.ph
Phone: 09422041421

Changes to This Policy

The University reserves the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy as necessary to reflect changes in applicable laws, regulations, regulatory guidance, or its internal data-processing practices. Updated versions will be posted on the University’s official website and, where appropriate, communicated to data subjects.