The Presidents of Asia Pacific Universities and Colleges Meeting was held in Chiang Rai, Thailand at XLC (Xavier Learning Community). The meeting was held for two days on the 18th and 19th of August 2017.
There were 32 delegates from each university and college who are the members of AJCU-AP (The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific). They are the delegates from Indonesia, Japan, Philippines, Korea, China, Thailand, and Australia. The meeting aimed to discuss the progress and the challenges faced by each member of AJCU-AP, and the current issues related to the universities’ and colleges’ development.
The meeting was led by the President of Sanata Dharma University who has become the President of AJCU-AP, Johanes Eka Priyatma, M.Sc., Ph.D. In the meeting, he gave a welcoming speech in which he discussed the importance of a collaboration between the members of AJCU-AP. Besides, a welcoming speech was also delivered by Fr. A. Sugijo Pitoyo, SJ as the host of the AJCU-AP meeting in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
The AJCU-AP meeting was held for two days. For the first day, there were some activities filled with sharing about the progress and challenges faced by each member of AJCU-AP. On the same day, all the delegates did reflections about the opening of 36th Congregation General led by Fr. B. Nebres, SJ as the first speaker. The next schedule were reflecting on and planning about the SLP and GLP programs 2016 & 2017, which were led by Bapak FX. Ouda Teda Ena, S.Pd., M.Pd., Ed.D as the Secretary of AJCU-AP.
Other than that, the schedule of the second day was begun with the speaker who was Fr. B. Hari Juliawan, SJ about the Planning for Sustainability of Life Project. The agenda continued with the report of 2016 programs and the plans for 2018 programs of AJCU-AP. On this second day, it was also announced to open the XLC (Xavier Learning Community) in Chiang Rai, Thailand by the local bishop. This agenda was begun by a mass led by the local bishop and continued to bless the new building, cultural performances, and ended with a social dinner.
XLC (Xavier Learning Community) is a college which gives opportunities to the adolescents of the minority ethnic group in the North Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos who are impacted by the armed conflict. There are about 44 students who are presently learning at XLC from the Karen and Akha ethnic groups, Thailand. Out prayers are with them always. (TP).