Ateneo hosts AJCU-AP 2022 International Networking Officers (INO) Annual Meeting

Ateneo de Manila University, through the leadership of University President Fr Roberto Yap SJ, current President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities-Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP), welcomed 16 delegates from 10 member institutions across 7 countries in the region for the International Networking Officers (INO) annual meeting from November 30 to December 2, 2022. Three delegates from The Beijing Center in China joined the meeting virtually via Zoom.

AJCU-AP 2022 INO annual meeting onsite delegates at the Ateneo de Manila University with AJCU-AP president, Fr Roberto Yap SJ, at the Church of the Gesu.

The AJCU-AP “is a voluntary association of Jesuit higher educational institutions (HEIs) and Jesuit higher educational endeavors (HEEs) functioning within the territory of the Jesuit Conference for Asia Pacific (JCAP).”

The INO annual meeting gathers its member institutions to review the association’s ongoing initiatives and propose new ones aligned with the overarching goal of AJCU-AP to “promote friendship in service and leadership, to share discernment in mission, to facilitate cooperation and service, to develop the appropriate “Jesuit” brand of higher education, to engage in strategic planning, projects and programs for the higher educational apostolate” in Asia Pacific.

Yap gives the welcome remarks and formally begins the meeting.

The 2022 INO annual meeting was attended onsite by delegates from Ateneo de Davao University (Philippines), Ateneo de Zamboanga University (Philippines), Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (Philippines), Fu Jen Catholic University (Taiwan), Myanmar Leadership Institute (Myanmar), Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia), Sogang University (South Korea), Sophia University (Japan), and Xavier Learning Community (Thailand). Online attendees included Fr Antonio Moreno SJ, the President of the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP), and delegates of The Beijing Center (China).

The agenda for the 2022 INO annual meeting included presentations and discussions of proposed initiatives. Fr Johnny Go SJ, Founding Dean of the Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design (GBSEALD), presented training programs for administrators and faculty while Moreno provided suggestions from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) for AJCU-AP Activities.

Go presents possible training programs for administrators and faculty.

Moreno (bottom left), presents suggestions from the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific (JCAP) for AJCU-AP activities.

The next installments of the flagship programs of the association were also presented by its respective organizing member institutions. The 2023 Global Leadership Program (GLP) proposal was presented by Fr Barnabé Hounguevou, SJ, Assistant to the Jesuit Mission Office of Fu Jen Catholic University. The 2023 Service Learning Program (SLP) proposal was delivered by Fr Winai Boonlue SJ, Director of Xavier Learning Community.

Hounguevou (left) and Boonlue (right) propose their respective institutions’ 2023 installments of the AJCU-AP flagship programs.

Karen Sunico, Ateneo de Manila University’s Director of the Office of International Relations (OIR), chairs the meeting and facilitates the discussion of the proposed initiatives.

The delegates also participated in activities to further strengthen their ties, and gave our members a glimpse of Philippine history and culture.

Yap joins the AJCU-AP INO 2022 delegates at the Farewell Dinner, where Filipino cuisine and good conversations were shared.

Some AJCU-AP delegates opted for a guided tour of the Ayala Museum in Makati City, where they learned about Philippine history.

This article originally appeared on www.ateneo.edu