The officers of the international programmes of the different schools in the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) met at the Ateneo de Manila University to share teaching and learning opportunities in Jesuit higher education.
The gathering held from 30 November to 2 December brought together 16 delegates of 10 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP). JCAP Education Secretary Fr Johnny Go SJ shared some training programmes for administrators and faculty members offered by the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design, where he is the dean. JCAP President Fr Tony Moreno SJ also discussed JCAP priorities in education.
Plans for next year’s AJCU-AP flagship programmes were presented as well. The Global Leadership Program will be held at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan, while the Service Learning Program will be hosted by Xavier Learning Community in Thailand.
Sr Sisca Setiati FCJ of Myanmar Leadership Institute (MLI) appreciated the opportunity to explore possible engagements and found the emphasis on supporting capacity building to be most encouraging.
“There is still so much to do in Myanmar and the meeting helped to see the importance of strengthening the capacity building of students and educators amidst the country’s collapsing education structure,” she said.
“The ongoing partnership between Ateneo de Manila and MLI in Yangon, and Ateneo de Davao and St Aloysius Gonzaga in Taunggyi as part of JCAP’s priorities was affirming,” she added. “We learnt ways to address the present and anticipated needs of education in Myanmar through collaborative learning, a culture of shared commitment, and networking.”
Besides establishing connections with one another, the delegates also enjoyed Filipino hospitality from their hosts led Fr Roberto Yap SJ, President of Ateneo de Manila University, and also the President of AJCU-AP and JCAP Secretary for Higher Education.
Some of them went on a guided tour of the Ayala Museum in Makati City, where they learnt about Philippine history. At the farewell dinner, there was good conversation shared over a delicious meal of Filipino fare.