Over the years, the emphasis of CVPED has been -and will continue to be- the research activities of Filipino and Dutch graduate students. The dual objective of this type of research, an education experience for graduate students combined with output-oriented research, certainly offers challenges but is of great value to the students in particular and to scientists, practitioners and policy makers in the Philippines in general.

CVPED provides students an interdisciplinary and intercultural experience in a ‘real world’ situation. The program encourages students to work in interdisciplinary and international teams; an experience that enhances their field work skills and problem-solving capabilities.

Counterparting: the participation of a Filipino and Dutch student in a single research project, has always been an objective of the Programme. Doing research for CVPED is for many Dutch students an intensive learning period. Doing fieldwork in the tropics, the interaction with Filipino supervisors and fellow students, two oral presentations, and the writing of a report are excellent experiences for students.

Other educational activities of CVPED are: (1) the organization of summer classes, and (2) internships and on-the-job training of students. Also in these activities emphasis is placed on integrating research and education and the societal relevance.

Summer class: Over the past two years, CVPED has organized a summer class in cooperation with various departments of ISU. The summer classes provide an excellent opportunity to train field work skills of graduate and undergraduate students. Intensive class room preparation is followed by ten days in the field. After the field, students are required to prepare a joint report. In 2004, CVPED facilitated a summer class in sitio San Isidro, San Mariano, in the framework of the CROC project. Forty students and eight faculty members from ISU participated in the summer class, supervised by Dante Aquino and Jan van der Ploeg.

Internships: In 2004 CVPED organized an internship of four students (Bs. Information Technology of CDCAS: Shallee Vinarao, Marietta Quilang, Jerry Guiyab, Narciso Beltran) who worked on database for the CROC project under the supervision of Marco Huigen. The aim of this internship is to expose undergraduate students to “real world” situations, and by doing so enhancing their skills and capabilities. For many students this is also an opportunity to work in an international team, and improve their communication and networking skills. In the coming years CVPED aims to continue with the facilitation of internships and on-the job-trainings, both in the CVPED office as well as in different field-based projects of the program.