SDG 16 at a Glance: Exploring Moral Values and Service Dedication among Aspiring Law Enforcers in a State University of the Cordilleras, Philippines

Abstract

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 and ethical issues in law enforcement are global concerns, yet studies contextualizing these issues in educational sectors still need to be made available. This study addresses this gap and acknowledges the role of education as a foundation of peace and justice and ensuring strong institutions by assessing the aspiring law enforcers’ moral values and service dedication at a college within a state university in the Cordilleras, Philippines. The study employed a convergent mixed methods approach. Graduating students and recent graduates (n = 280) completed the survey, while faculty and staff (n = 6) participated in one-on-one interviews to triangulate the data. Quantitative findings reveal occasional moral values and service dedication manifestations across five dimensions. Qualitative findings highlight factors influencing these manifestations, which include financial limitations, disinterest in social and political issues, personal weaknesses, conflicting interests, limited understanding of humanitarian law enforcement, reluctance to discuss ethical issues, procrastination, and delayed decision-making. Converging the data emphasizes the importance of enhancing ethics in education within law enforcement curricula to ensure socially conscious and ethically responsible future law enforcers. Future research could explore localized learning outcomes to inform broader policies like SDGs.

Keywords:

• Criminal justice education
• ethical doctrine
• law enforcement
• police

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

• SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Acknowledgements

The researchers extend their heartfelt gratitude to Ifugao State University-Lamut, Ifugao, particularly acknowledging Ms. Rona Leigh Addun for her invaluable assistance in data gathering, Dr. Melanie G. Gurat for her expert guidance in statistical analysis, and all the respondents and participants whose time and contributions were essential to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ifugao State University, Lamut, Ifugao, Philippines, specifically in the implementation and execution of the study.

Notes on contributors

Luther F. Castillo

Luther F. Castillo is a social studies and professional education instructor, researcher, and extension enthusiast at the Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines, and a former social science instructor at the College Criminal Justice Education of Ifugao State University in Lamut, Ifugao, Philippines. His research interests include community studies, social services, social studies education, pedagogy, and educational management. In this study, his contributions are conceptualization, methodology, data acquisition, analysis, writing-original draft and editing, and critical revision of the manuscript.

Annie A. Tumitit

Annie A. Tumitit is a Criminal Justice Education professor, researcher, and extensionist at Ifugao State University, Lamut, Ifugao, Philippines. Her research interests include criminal justice education, management, and community studies. In this study, her contributions are conceptualization, data acquisition, technical and material support, securing funding, writing review, and supervision.