The Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) School of Nursing (SON) has strengthened its international presence this September through academic conferences, cross-border agreements, and collaborative engagements with partner institutions across Asia.
From 3 to 5 September 2025, three faculty members, Dr. Anna Liza Saus, Mr. Ian Kristoffer Dagala, and Ms. Villy Jonna Lalong-Isip, represented the SON at the Saint Louis College Health Care and Academic Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. On 4 September 2025, SON Dean, Dr. Liza G. Floresca, formalized an international partnership with STIKS Stella Maris College of Health Sciences in Makassar, Indonesia. The ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was followed by a meeting to identify areas of cooperation, such as collaborative online learning, joint research on stroke management, international learning sessions, faculty and student mobility, and cultural exchange. With collaborative online international learning identified as a priority, Stella Maris requested an orientation and training session for its faculty to be hosted by ADDU.
Dr. Floresca also served as a keynote speaker at Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar (UNISMUH) Medical and Health Science International Conference (UMEDHICON) 2025, an international conference for physicians, nurses, and midwives on 6 September 2025. Beyond her keynote, she met with the university’s research team to explore opportunities for future joint projects that will advance knowledge in the health sciences.
The SON further extended its global engagements through an online meeting with Panti Rapih University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. During the meeting, a draft MOU template was submitted for review, covering proposals for student immersion, benchmarking activities, mobility programs, joint research, and international learning sessions.
“These initiatives reflect ADDU’s vision of building bridges of learning and service across borders. Our nursing community continues to embrace global partnerships that enhance research, teaching, and cultural understanding,” Dr. Floresca said.
Through these engagements, the SON supports the university’s commitment to forming globally competent and socially committed health professionals who can respond to the needs of both local and international communities.
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