Cultural development initiatives of higher education institutions and their perceived impacts on students' psychosocial development and institutional image / Shella S. Sandoy

Includes bibliographical references

Abstract
This study investigated the cultural development initiatives (CDIs) of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Western Visayas and their perceived impacts on students' psychosocial development and institutional image in the first semester of academic year 2025-2026. It aimed to explore the CDIs implemented by HEIs in the areas of curriculum and instruction, faculty development, student development, research and innovation, extension and community involvement and resource generation. A descriptive comparative correlational design was used collecting data from 70 directors and faculty and 70 students who are members of different organizations who were purposively selected to answer a validated researcher-developed questionnaire. The study found that HEIs have strongly evident cultural development initiatives in all the identified areas regardless of institutional size, status of organizations and focus of organizations existing in the main campuses of the state universities involved in data gathering. The study further found that the HEIs' CDIs have very high perceived impact on students' psychosocial development encompassing cognitive, emotional and social components and also on institutional image specifically in terms of academic quality, reputation and values. No significant differences were found in the CDIs and their perceived impacts on students' psychosocial development and institutional image when categorized according to institutional size, status of organizations and focus of organizations. The study claims that SUCs' strongly evident efforts and commitment in fostering cultural development in their campuses is highly commendable as supported by the very high perceived impacts of CDIs on students' psychosocial development and on institutional image.
The study highly suggests the integration of cultural development initiatives in all the relevant thrusts of the institution and the continuous creation of opportunities for all members of the institution to become culturally competent through empowering activities and initiatives.
Keywords: cultural development initiatives, psychosocial development, institutional image, cultural development framework, cultural development policy

Theses/Dissertations Graduate Studies