The Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) hosted the Internationalization (IZN) Week from 16 to 20 February 2026, with the theme “Mobility, Exchange, and Learning Beyond Campus.”
Through the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office, the University promotes internationalization in ways that are intentional and strategic. In support of this commitment, IZN Week was organized and welcomed administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni, and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Davao Region.
The week began with the IZN Information Series, held from 16 to 18 February, an online campaign that introduced internationalization and the opportunities it offers. It presented both IZN at Home initiatives, such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), virtual exchanges, and global classroom experiences, as well as IZN Abroad programs, including student exchanges, study visits, internships, and other mobility engagements. The series also showcased the University’s Global Citizenship Fund (GCF), which supports and subsidizes student mobility initiatives.
The main events took place on 19 February 2026, beginning with the opening of the Global Village and Exhibit at the Rodriguez Hall. The exhibit was launched through a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by University President Fr. Karel S. San Juan, SJ, joined by administrators, faculty, staff, students, exhibitors, and guests.
The Global Village became one of the most active spaces of the week. Partner institutions and organizations set up booths that featured academic, cultural, and professional pathways abroad. From short-term programs to semester exchanges, research collaborations, and scholarships, the range of opportunities was wide and varied. The morning continued with the information session “Learning Beyond Campus: Scholarships, Internships, and Professional Tracks Abroad,” led by exhibitors and partners.
In the afternoon, the hybrid workshop “Laying the Groundwork: A Starter Workshop on Higher Education Internationalization” was designed for administrators, internationalization focal persons, faculty champions, and staff.
The session focused on strengthening institutional capacity and aligning internationalization efforts with each institution’s mission. Participants reflected on how internationalization can be defined within their respective contexts and identified practical starting points and achievable initiatives, including IZN at Home programs.
On the topic “Where Do We Begin? Starting Points for IZN,” Mr. Romulo Vinci R. Bueza, Executive Assistant to the President and AIM Director, presented concrete approaches that institutions may adopt as they begin or strengthen their internationalization efforts.
The panel session, “Stories from Davao Region HEIs,” featured Ms. Lesele Condeza, Alternate Focal for Internationalization at the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office XI (CHED RO XI); Dr. Lilibeth S. Galvez, Director of the Global Affairs and International Relations Office at Davao Oriental State University; Dr. June L. Prieto, Director of the San Pedro College Internationalization and Linkages Office; and Mr. Kelly H. Moran, Faculty Member at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo. The co-discussants shared their institutions’ experiences in initiating and sustaining internationalization programs and reflected on the strategies and challenges encountered along the way.
We thank all participants who joined us onsite and online, as well as our partner institutions and exhibitors, for their active participation and valuable insights.