MSEUF provides neutral, “safe” forums where diverse stakeholders can talk frankly about public issues

Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation (MSEUF) advances SDG 16 by opening campus venues and programs as non-partisan platforms where government offices, civil society, professionals, and students can meet, exchange views, and troubleshoot policy and service challenges together.

 

Campus as a neutral convening space

CBA Stakeholders’ Assembly (multi-agency policy dialogue).
The College of Business and Accountancy hosted a one-day assembly that brought government and non-government partners together with faculty and students to discuss priority issues (e.g., financial literacy and workforce readiness). The format—panel briefings plus open exchange—positioned the college as a neutral broker between public agencies, industry, and learners. 

“Know Your Rights” public legal forum (open, rules-based discussion).
Enverga Law School’s CLEP, with IBP-Quezon and the Rotary Club of Metro Lucena, ran a campus seminar that included an open forum on sensitive legal topics (Safe Spaces Act, VAWC, basic civil rights). The event created a structured, respectful space for questions, clarifications, and dissenting views—key features of a safe political dialogue. 

Provincial CSO–Academe Partners Meeting (coordinated with DSWD).
MSEUF joined the DSWD IV-A 4Ps partners meeting, where civil society groups, university units, and government implementers reviewed results and negotiated next steps for vulnerable families. The convening’s agenda and shared updates made it a frank problem-solving table across sectors. 

Culture and skills that keep dialogue safe

Well-being facilitation for staff moderators.
HRD’s “EUr Stress Management and Personal Well-being” webinar trained 222 employees and faculty in practical coping and communication strategies—skills that help moderators and organizers hold difficult conversations without escalation, reinforcing psychological safety in public forums. 

Values-driven leadership circles.
Weekly sessions with Christians for Nation-Building (C4NB) for CCJC student leaders cultivated ethics, purpose, and service, preparing future front-liners to participate in—and host—civil, solutions-oriented discussions with community stakeholders. 

 

How MSEUF's efforts satisfy SDG 16

Neutral platform: University-hosted assemblies and seminars invite multiple viewpoints (government, CSOs, academia, community) into the same room under campus ground rules, without endorsing a party or faction. 

Safe space: Structured agendas, moderated Q&A, and capacity-building for staff reduce power imbalances and harm, enabling frank discussion of sensitive issues (rights, social protection, economic inclusion). 

Problem-solving orientation: Partners use these platforms to review evidence, share constraints, and agree next actions, improving services for local families and learners. 

Grounded in Mindfulness, Service, Excellence, Unity, and Fortitude, MSEUF makes dialogue a public service: it convenes the people who disagree—or simply don’t meet often enough—under one roof, keeps the conversation safe, and steers it toward better policies and programs for Lucena and the province.