Madayaw! Salaam! Welcome!
OUR MINDANAO
At the foot of the Philippine archipelago, lies the great island of Mindanao—home to a vast diversity of peoples whose vibrant histories intertwine and breathe life to the land’s enchanting landscapes, beautiful coastal regions, and mighty mountain ranges.
In many ways, Mindanao is the cultural heart of the Philippines. It is a place where the indigenous peoples strive to empower their homelands through meaningful craft and industry, without sacrificing their roots in ancient traditions and heritage. It is also a land of interreligious social forms, where living alongside one another are Muslims and Christians whose shared pasts converged and clashed in experiences of colonization, war, and poverty, and whose shared hopes and aspirations now pave the path towards peacebuilding and a better Mindanao.
In northern Mindanao lies the gateway city of Cagayan de Oro, while in the east one will behold the magnificent surfing beaches of Siargao Island. In between lies Camiguin, a ravishing volcanic island off Mindanao’s northern coast, along with the enchanting Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, inhabited by the Manobo tribe, and the deep blue waters of the Enchanted River. Also worth exploring are the western cities of Iligan and Dapitan and
Davao City in the south, the island’s de facto capital, is a friendly provincial metropolis with excellent restaurants, nightlife and endless heaps of durian, the stinky fruit that tastes like gourmet custard. Nearby are the beaches of Samal Island and majestic Mount Apo. West of the frenetic city of General Santos, around the shores of Lake Sebu, the friendly and artistic T’boli people still live in traditional wooden houses and wear hand-woven tribal garments and adornments.
Much of western Mindanao is part of Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM. Highlights include the northern shore of serene Lake Lanao, and the hundreds of islands that make up the spectacular Sulu archipelago, especially Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.
MORE ABOUT THE
PHILIPPINES
CURATED AND BESPOKE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
ProgramsAt the heart of our programs lies a commitment to providing students and faculty members with an unparalleled educational journey that is both curated and bespoke. This means that every aspect of their experience is thoughtfully designed to suit their aspirations, preferences, and thirst for knowledge. AIM’s Global Experiential Learning Programs are inherently formative as it maximizes the potentials of the whole person approach when engaging the world.
INTERNATIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS
The University hosts visiting researchers, faculty members, and scholars from partner international higher education institutions in a learning session under various formats available in both online and traditional lecture settings.
(Also offered online)
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAM
This 4-week service-learning program hosts students wherein they could interact and be in dialogue with our partner communities in Mindanao. The program is designed to foster Ignatian formation through service that is rooted in Mindanao—an experiential, formative exercise that AIM seeks to share with young student leaders from all over the world, especially its partners in Asia.
MINDANAO STUDY VISIT
Mindanao Study Visit is a short-term educational immersion program that is open to students, faculty and staff members of AIM’s partner higher education institutions who are looking to expand their cultural horizons by learning more about Mindanao. The program features week-long study tours and site visits with various local private industries, non-government organizations, and partner communities and advocacy groups.
INTENSIVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM
This program is a one-month on-site English language course offered to our partner institutions’ undergraduate students. It is designed to provide learners with intensive training toward English proficiency. The program is also infused with cultural learning immersion that introduces the history and heritage of Davao City, Mindanao, through study tours and academic dialogue.
INTERNATIONAL STUDY VISIT PROGRAM
This program is a short-term cross-cultural engagement program for the faculty, administrators, and non-teaching staff members of the Ateneo de Davao University. It will provide opportunities for international travel, particularly in East and Southeast Asia, networking and collaboration with institutional partners abroad, and immersive crosscultural engagement.
(For Ateneo administrators, faculty members, and staff)
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO APPLY OR PARTNER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL OR SET A MEETING WITH US