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Experiential Learning

Our Mindanao

At the foot of the Philippine archipelago, lies the great island of Mindanao—home to a vast diversity of peoples whose vibrant histories intertwine and breathe life to the land’s enchanting landscapes, beautiful coastal regions, and mighty mountain ranges.

In many ways, Mindanao is the cultural heart of the Philippines. It is a place where the indigenous peoples strive to empower their homelands through meaningful craft and industry, without sacrificing their roots in ancient traditions and heritage. It is also a land of interreligious social forms, where living alongside one another are Muslims and Christians whose shared pasts converged and clashed in experiences of colonization, war, and poverty, and whose shared hopes and aspirations now pave the path towards peacebuilding and a better Mindanao.

In northern Mindanao lies the gateway city of Cagayan de Oro, while in the east one will behold the magnificent surfing beaches of Siargao Island. In between lies Camiguin, a ravishing volcanic island off Mindanao’s northern coast, along with the enchanting Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, inhabited by the Manobo tribe, and the deep blue waters of the Enchanted River. Also worth exploring are the western cities of Iligan and Dapitan and Mount Malindang National Park, a little-known area of dense rainforest near Ozamiz.

Davao City in the south, the island’s de facto capital, is a friendly provincial metropolis with excellent restaurants, nightlife and endless heaps of durian, the stinky fruit that tastes like gourmet custard. Nearby are the beaches of Samal Island and majestic Mount Apo. West of the frenetic city of General Santos, around the shores of Lake Sebu, the friendly and artistic T’boli people still live in traditional wooden houses and wear hand-woven tribal garments and adornments.

Much of western Mindanao is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM. Highlights include the northern shore of serene Lake Lanao, and the hundreds of islands that make up the spectacular Sulu archipelago, especially Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

CURATED AND BESPOKE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Programs

At the heart of our programs lies a commitment to providing students and faculty members with an unparalleled educational journey that is both curated and bespoke. This means that every aspect of their experience is thoughtfully designed to suit their aspirations, preferences, and thirst for knowledge. AIM’s Global Experiential Learning Programs are inherently formative as it maximizes the potentials of the whole person approach when engaging the world.

International Learning Sessions

We host visiting researchers, faculty members, and scholars from partner international higher education institutions in a learning session under various formats available in both online and traditional lecture settings.

International Service-Learning Programs

This 4-week service-learning program hosts students wherein they could interact and be in dialogue with our partner communities in Mindanao. The program is designed to foster Ignatian formation through service that is rooted in Mindanao—an experiential, formative exercise that AIM seeks to share with young student leaders from all over the world, especially its partners in Asia.

Madayaw Study Visits

This short-term educational immersion program that is open to students, faculty and staff members of AIM’s partner higher education institutions who are looking to expand their cultural horizons by learning more about Mindanao. The program features week-long study tours and site visits with various local private industries, non-government organizations, and partner communities and advocacy groups.

International Study Visits

This short-term cross-cultural engagement program is for the faculty, administrators, and non-teaching staff members of Ateneo de Davao University. It will provide opportunities for international travel, networking, and collaboration with institutional partners abroad.

Intensive English Language Program

This one-month on-site English language course is offered to our partner institutions’ undergraduate students. It is designed to provide learners with intensive training toward English proficiency. The program is also infused with cultural learning immersion that introduces the history and heritage of Davao City, Mindanao, through study tours and academic dialogue.

GLOBALLY NETWORKED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Academic Mobility Programs

At Ateneo de Davao University, we have innovative spaces for both onsite and remote learning designed to empower students in their navigation and understanding of an increasingly globalized world. These learning environments link students to peers, instructors, experts, and communities from diverse contexts, challenge students to negotiate and build shared learning cultures across diverse boundaries, and provide students with new opportunities for civic engagement in a global context.

Student Exchange Programs

Through our study abroad program, Ateneo de Davao University strengthens its long-term academic partnerships with universities around the world. Each year, we welcome international students from our partner institutions and, in turn, send our own students abroad to experience learning in a new cultural setting and country.

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

COIL is designed to engage with institutional partners from all over the world in virtual exchange that is guided by a commitment to academic excellence, transformative education, and accessible international learning.

For inquiries, kindly email us at international@addu.edu.ph or schedule a meeting.