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 Mount Malindang National Park, a little-known area of dense rainforest near Ozamiz.

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.

Download Welcome Primer here

MORE ABOUT THE

PHILIPPINES

GLOBAL EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Programs

The Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office developed short-term international programs that will provide a wider reach of avenues for global experiential learning. AIM’s Global Experiential Learning Programs are inherently formative as it maximizes the potentials of the whole person approach when engaging the world. It is also designed to hone practical skills through exposure and application-based learning.

INTERNATIONAL LEARNING SESSIONS

Wherein ADDU 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 in traditional lecture settings.

(Also offered online)

THE GLOBAL FACULTY LOUNGE

The Global Faculty Lounge is an open virtual space for conversation and fellowship among professors and academics of ADDU and its collaborating Higher Education Institutions.

(Offered online)

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE-LEARNING PROGRAMS

This 4-week service-learning program hosts students wherein they could interact and be in dialogue with ADDU’s 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.

(Also offered online)

GLOBAL INTERNSHIPS

This 4-week program is currently available for internship placements that accommodate the work-from-home model that is currently in demand given the new normal. The remote internship hosts inbound student applicants from partner HEIs who could choose a placement among local, Mindanawon advocacy-based NGO’s, institutes, and centers. The remote internship also has an outbound counterpart, where ADDU students are given an opportunity to have internships in companies and organizations abroad.

(Also offered online)

INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR ADULT LEARNING

ADD-ALL is an open academy that offers short non-degree courses for adult learners. It has creative, skills-based, and credited courses that will surely inspire enrollees to value lifelong learning. The Academy is not just interested in participants, but in possible instructor applicants from academic institutions abroad as well.

(Also offered online)

MINDANAO STUDY VISITS

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.

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED TO APPLY OR PARTNER, YOU ARE WELCOME TO EMAIL OR SET A MEETING WITH US

programs