The Ateneo de Davao University, through the Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office hosted an International Learning Session (ILS) on Restorative Justice and Disinformation with Mr. Jeremy Simons, PhD as the lead discussant. The ILS took place via Zoom teleconference last 23 June 2022 (Thursday).
The Ateneo de Davao University has always welcomed opportunities for meaningful dialogue with academics and researchers from all over the world. Such opportunities have allowed the University to constantly foster international learning and intercultural understanding with its neighbors in the academe and from all over the world.
Hence, the regular hosting of online International Learning Sessions (ILS) wherein the AIM Office is able to engage esteemed scholars and guest lecturers from various fields of study in a dialogue session.
For the June 2022 leg of the ILS series, the University hosted Dr. Jeremy Simons of the University of Otago, New Zealand. He is a peace advocate who has previously worked with the Mindanao Peacebuilding Institute. His research on restorative justice has its roots in Mindanao history, and he recently extended his study to include peace and democracy in the era of disinformation. Dr. Simons was joined by Dr. Vida Mia S. Valverde, Chair of the Philosophy Department as a discussion reactor from the Ateneo de Davao University.
The ILS was attended by 153 participants, mostly students, faculty, and staff members from partner higher education institutions abroad, hailing from countries like Indonesia, the US, India, and Japan. In this learning session, the participants were given the opportunity to learn the concepts and practices of restorative justice, especially in the context of widespread disinformation, with restorative justice being a community-led and dialogue-based approach to socioeconomic healing and reconciliation.