The Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) participated in the US-PH Global Partnership Workshop held on 28-29 August 2024 at the Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, Pasig City.
This two-day workshop, organized by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), also known as the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State’s USA Study Abroad, aims to broaden perspectives on global partnerships and enhance the capacity of Philippine Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to engage in two-way academic exchanges and study abroad programs. The workshop gathered participants from various institutions and explored how both the public and private sectors can support academic initiatives to maximize internationalization resources for U.S. and Filipino students and scholars.
Presenting an invaluable opportunity for capacity building in internationalization, Ms. Lyd Ejira C. Ducusin, Assistant Director of the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao Office, was selected as one of 30 delegates from HEIs across the country.
The workshop engaged participants in intensive sessions on comprehensive internationalization, strategic partnerships, and mobility and Internationalization at Home programs. These sessions were facilitated by U.S. experts in international education and partnerships, Dr. Jill E. Blondin, Executive Director of the Global Education Office at Virginia Commonwealth University, and Dr. Nick J. Gozik, Dean of Global Education at Elon University. They shared educational trends and the growing importance of cross-border partnerships, noting the Philippines’ potential not only as a source of students, scholars, and researchers for U.S. institutions, but also as a viable partner in study-abroad programs.
On the first day of the workshop, the conference began with a warm welcome from Mr. Julio Amador III, PAEF Executive Director, and Ms. Corinna Frances Cabanilla, a member of the PAEF Board of Directors and a representative from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
After the introductions, the resource speakers enriched the discussions on topics such as the U.S. System of Higher Education and Comprehensive Internationalization. They emphasized that internationalization should be embraced at all levels of the institution, requiring a committed vision from leadership, sector-wide involvement, and strategic planning to initiate meaningful, sustainable partnerships.
In the afternoon, the sessions shifted to a more practical approach, discussing mobility and global learning considerations for U.S. students, and program development focusing on experiential learning and community engagement. The experts recommended designing international programs that address Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) to ensure that global education initiatives are grounded in local community engagement.
On the second day of the conference, Mr. Y. Robert Ewing, Deputy Chief of Mission – U.S. Embassy, delivered a message of support. Following this, the workshop featured a session on Internationalization at Home. One of the initiatives presented was the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), which is also one of the priority programs of ADDU.
The sessions further demonstrated how Philippine HEIs can enhance their international visibility, create new pathways for collaboration with U.S. universities, and develop international education and exchange initiatives. The workshop continued with an activity, “Developing a Pitch: Finding Your Institution’s Unique Voice,” where participants were able to showcase a pitch to market their institution to potential U.S. academic partners.
In the afternoon, participants were presented with various global opportunities and scholarship programs offered by PAEF (Fulbright Commission in the Philippines), the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy, and EducationUSA. An open forum and one-on-one consultations were held to discuss internationalization strategies and future collaboration opportunities.
The two-day event concluded with a dinner reception featuring messages from Mr. Julio Amador III, PAEF Executive Director, and Dr. Shirley Agrupis, President of Mariano Marcos State University, incoming CHED Commissioner, and a Fulbright alumna.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Jessica Simon, PAEF Chairperson and Counselor for Public Affairs – U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all participants and speakers.
ADDU’s participation in the US-PH Global Partnership Workshop greatly contributed critical perspectives and takeaways that correspond with the University’s mission of advancing strategic internationalization for local impacts.
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