Last June 2019, the members of the Board of Trustees of the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia—the organizational head to a network of Christian institutions, colleges, and universities committed to fostering quality higher education in Asia—had their Mindanao study visit and annual in-person meeting with their partner Philippine institutions.
In this study visit, they desired to further their understanding of the issues affecting higher education in Mindanao by way of contextualizing capacities of ADDU for peacebuilding and interreligious dialogue. ADDU, therefore, hosted a Pakighinabi on the Context of Higher Education in Mindanao at the Calungsod-San Vitores Jesuit-Lay Collaboration Center, 11/F Community Center of the First Companions, with Fr. Joel E. Tabora, SJ, ADDU President, as the lead discussant.
The United Board trustees also had conversations with AVP Dr. Gina L. Montalan on how ADDU promotes Whole Person Education, and with Ms. Lilibeth Leh-Arcena on the University’s Service-Learning Program. Their study visit also gave them an opportunity to meet members of a community in Gawad Kalinga Medsa, Tibungco, with a couple of ADDU students and graduates. This engagement enabled the guests to better understand Mindanao and ADDU’s role in forming young leaders in service of the region.