After two years of being put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 28th Conference Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities (ASEACCU) was finally hosted at the Saint Paul Institute (SPI), Takeo Province, Cambodia from 23-27 August 2022. The Ateneo Internationalization for Mindanao (AIM) Office represented the goals of Ateneo de Davao University for strategic internationalization alongside the attendance of student delegates and a staff representative from the Arrupe Office of Social Formation (AOSF).
The AIM Office was also able to acquire permission to extend the networking effort beyond the ASEACCU Conference and towards appointments with other non-ASEACCU higher education institutions in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and existing and potential partner universities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The trip was a realization of the AIM Office’s pre-pandemic plans to conduct in-person visits with Asian HEI partners, with Indonesia being the first leg of that implementation last May 2022. The success of the Indonesia networking trip provided the momentum for the appointments in Cambodia and Vietnam.
The AIM Office Director, Mr. Romulo Vinci Bueza, and Assistant Director, Ms. Fatima Jennae Jereza, represented Ateneo de Davao University in a series of exploratory meetings and partnership deliberations with the following higher education institutions: The University of Cambodia (Phnom Penh), Norton University (Phnom Penh), University of Economics and Finance (Ho Chi Minh), University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh). The representatives also were able to forge partnerships with the Catholic University of Pusan (Busan, South Korea), and the Prieb So – Jesuit Service Cambodia (Phnom Penh) during the ASEACCU Conference.
The Cambodia and Vietnam partner HEIs expressed great support in fostering Globally-Networked Learning Environments with Ateneo de Davao University. The academic programs were at the forefront of discussions, with partners highlighting their interest for student and faculty exchanges and other specialized study abroad or mobility programs. They also showed great interest towards global experiential learning programs that highlight cultural exchanges (study visits) and community service and formation (international service-learning programs).
The partners were also keen on making sure that the forthcoming agreements would not end up frozen and inactive. The areas and programs discussed for collaboration were specific and targeted, ensuring that the ways of proceeding are concrete beyond the signing of various memoranda.
As with the meetings in Indonesia, this networking initiative is in line with the mission of the University to “promote cultural understanding and friendship with its Asian neighbors.” Further engagements for academic and experiential collaborations are anticipated for the next couple of months towards the next school year.