The Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office conducted the Orientations for International students and Filipino students residing abroad in the Higher Education Unit last 17 and 22 July 2020, respectively.
With the virtual learning set-up in the university, the program was conducted through a Zoom videoconference. This is the first virtual activity organized by the AIM Office for the students. To break the ice, several games and getting-to-know activities were played in the first part of the program.
Afterwards, a comprehensive talk on The New Normal: An Orientation to Ateneo’s Virtual Learning Community was given by Fr. Ulysses A. Cabayao, S.J., the Assistant to the Academic Vice President for Online Education. After his talk, Fr. Cabayao also engaged in a sharing of experiences by the students for the first month of a purely online schooling. The shared experiences–both good and bad–were taken into consideration for a better conduct of the online learning.
It was then followed by an informative talk about the AIM Office and its Programs by Mr. Vinci R. Bueza, Director of the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao Office. Mr. Bueza discussed the ongoing programs of the International Office, as well as the upcoming programs for the students such as (1) monthly kumustahan sessions; (2) technical writing course for international students, and (3) visa assistance services–to name a few.
For the third talk in the international students’ orientation, Mr. Renz Allan S. Lacorte, President of Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Pamantasan ng Ateneo de Davao, the official student government of the Higher Education Unit of Ateneo de Davao University, presented SAMAHAN and its Programs. Mr. Lacorte discussed the activities and advocacies of SAMAHAN and how to be part of it. The ADVOCASIX – or the six main advocacies of SAMAHAN – includes (1) climate action; (2) mental health; (3) rural poor; (4) good governance; (5) youth empowerment and leadership; and (6) peacebuilding.
The last talk was about the International Students’ Concerns discussed by Mr. Sukhpreet Singh, International Students’ Representative to the SAMAHAN Multi-Sectoral Council. Mr. Singh initially gathered the concerns of his fellow international students and assisted them on how it can be solved and who is the responsible office for their concerns. This was then followed by an open discussion of other concerns and suggestions through a breakout session.
The orientations–both for the international students and Filipino students residing abroad–ended successfully after AIM Director, Mr. Vinci R. Bueza, gave a synthesis of the program and a closing message. This is just the beginning of informative and entertaining sessions planned by the AIM office for the students of Ateneo de Davao University.