A Creative campus as defined by the Association of Cultural Office in Philippine Educational Institutions (ACOPEI)

Abstract

The idea of a creative campus, as conceptualized by Tepper, refers to a campus which allows students to experience creativity and to sharpen the skills needed in today’s knowledge-based economy, where the value of new ideas and new relationships grows daily. The aim of this thesis is to know what a creative campus environment is as defined by the Association of Cultural Offices in Philippine Educational Institutions, and how is its presence/acceptance by members of the organization proven by the programs and activities of the member institutions of the association. The objectives of this study are (1) to state ACOPEI’s vision, mission and organizational objectives, (2) to look into the membership of the Board of Directors of ACOPEI, (3) to enumerate ACOPEI’s programs and activities, (4) to determine how a creative campus, as defined by the ACOPEI Board Members, is embodied in the programs and activities of the universities which are part of ACOPEI, and (5) to state the definition of a creative campus meant by the ACOPEI. In order to do this, the researcher referred to online books and journal articles regarding the concept of a creative campus and conducted both face-to-face and e-mail informational interviews with the members of the ACOPEI Board to learn how a creative campus is embodied in their respective educational institutions. The research will focus on the national organization ACOPEI, its founding members and their respective educational institutions, and the first element of a creative campus stated by Tepper which is allowing students to experience reativity. Based on the findings, there are three creative campus indicators common in the founding member institutions. These are (1) the presence of an office which manages culture and the arts, (2) the cultural organizations which are managed by the cultural office, and (3) the different high-level cultural and artistic performances and activities that integrate Philippine culture in the campus. Upon analyzing the roles of these indicators, a creative campus as defined by ACOPEI is a campus which fosters creativity and builds the identity and shows the ingenuity of a Filipino by valuing Philippine culture and the arts.