PUCP - Reseña histórica por los 50 años del CISEPA

The Establishment of the Social Sciences Faculty and Research Center

Introduction to SICEPA

• The establishment of the Social Sciences Faculty at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú mandated the creation of a new interdisciplinary research center, which was a novel concept in Peru.

• SICEPA has been recognized as a space dedicated to rigorous research and truth-seeking, facilitating innovative teaching and policy development.

Historical Context

• Following its founding in 1964, early faculty members emphasized empirical research to advance social sciences in Peru.

• A group of professors, supported by Dutch colleagues, founded the Centro de Investigaciones Sociales, which later evolved into SICEPA.

Research Methodology and Impact

• The importance of research in social sciences was ingrained from the start due to international assistance and high-quality faculty involvement.

• The center aimed to improve national conditions through academic efforts, emphasizing that universities must engage in research.

Funding and Initial Projects

Early Financial Support

• Professor Máximo Vega Centeno played a crucial role in securing initial funding from UNESCO for early research projects.

• One notable project focused on the social value of time, highlighting cultural differences regarding punctuality across societies.

Personal Involvement in Research

• Researchers engaged directly with communities during studies; one researcher compared international prices amidst significant political changes like military coups and agrarian reform.

Development of CISEPA's Structure

Formalization and Leadership

• On April 22, 1966, CISEPA was officially established with Darnardus van K. Eck as director and Enrique Bernales as secretary general.

Focus Areas in Research

• In the 1970s, CISEPA began exploring new dimensions such as political culture in Peru through collaborative studies with sociologists like Enrique Bernales.

Evolution Towards Applied Research

Shift Toward Practical Applications

• By mid-to-late 70s, CISEPA's focus expanded towards applied research addressing social movements while interpreting their political significance.

Integration with University Structure

• In 1971, CISEPA became affiliated with university departments responsible for coordinating social science research efforts.

Contributions to Policy Formulation

Role Post-Democracy Return

• With democracy restored, CISEPA engaged more deeply in applied research funded by state resources for public policy formulation across various sectors including urban development and education.

Personal Reflections on Amazonian Studies

• Reflecting on past work related to Amazonia highlighted personal motivations tied to environmental experiences during fieldwork.

Research and Development in Social Sciences

Overview of Research Initiatives

• The speaker discusses their experience with a research project focused on violence in El Goya de la Central and Bajo Mayor, highlighting the successful completion despite challenges.

• Collaboration across disciplines was emphasized, involving education, psychology, sociology, and anthropology to create a diverse research team.

• A significant focus was placed on migration studies in partnership with the International Federation of Catholic Universities, particularly examining the impact on families left behind.

Educational Projects and Teacher Recognition

• The speaker mentions a project with the Ministry of Education aimed at identifying exemplary teachers, countering negative perceptions about public educators.

• Ongoing research at CICEPA includes studying indigenous populations' access to natural resources in Bajo Uruguamba, producing educational materials like videos and children's books.

Current Research Focus Areas

• The speaker is involved in three long-term projects: a global values survey since 1996, human development indicators related to poverty measurement, and religious change studies.

• CICEPA currently operates six research lines including politics, public policy development, social processes, culture and language studies, international relations, macroeconomics, and economic policy.

Institutional Contributions and Future Directions

• The collaboration with CICEPA has facilitated applied research projects for institutions like Universidad de los Andes in Colombia focusing on mining development lessons.

• Beyond research initiatives, CICEPA organizes seminars and workshops while supporting various research groups through training programs for public and private entities.

Challenges Ahead for CICEPA

• The speaker identifies ongoing challenges for CICEPA regarding integrating autonomous yet collaborative research efforts within the university framework.

• Emphasizing the need for original knowledge creation relevant to local contexts rather than merely replicating external models is crucial for social sciences in Peru.

Vision for Future Research Excellence

• The potential of CICEPA lies in fostering connections between professional training and innovative research outputs that are sustainable over time.

• Aspirations include establishing CICEPA as the leading social science research center nationally while celebrating its 50-year legacy of impactful contributions.

Reflections on Knowledge Creation

• The speaker reflects on an anecdote emphasizing that true knowledge comes from those who engage deeply with their fields—highlighting the importance of teaching as an extension of active inquiry.

Interviewing Political Elites in Peru

Introduction to Research Context

• A Belgian professor, Philip Spee, was conducting research on political elites in Peru. The speaker expressed interest and offered to assist with interviews.

• The professor suggested an interview with the President of the Senate, indicating its significance for the research.

Fieldwork Experience

• Although not directly involved in research, the speaker recalls engaging in fieldwork for CISEPA (Centro de Investigación y Servicios Educativos).

• An anecdote is shared about a survey question posed to mothers at public schools regarding their reasons for sending children to school.

Challenges in Understanding Local Perspectives

• The mothers struggled to comprehend the survey question; education was viewed as essential as providing food and clothing.

• This highlighted a disconnect between researchers' inquiries and local realities, suggesting that some questions may be out of context or poorly framed.

Technological Anecdotes

• A humorous comparison is made about modern technology: today's cell phones have more memory than early space missions.

• A colleague's experience interviewing farmers revealed cultural differences; when asked about adolescent children, a farmer humorously responded that all were healthy instead of addressing the question directly.