On December 1, 2023, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP), a consortium of Jesuit institutions of higher education in Asia including Sophia University, held its annual meeting of the International Networking Officers (INOs) at Sophia University. The meeting is a gathering of faculty and staff of each institution who are responsible for international exchange and global education.
The purpose of this meeting, which is held annually at AJCU-AP member institutions, is to share recent developments at the member institutions, discuss issues and concerns, strengthen cooperation and networking, and make detailed adjustments to items discussed at the consortium’s CEO Meeting held every summer. This year’s meeting, the first to be hosted at Sophia, was attended by approximately 30 participants, including 17 participants from 13 overseas member universities along with Sophia faculty members and staff.
Following a welcome dinner on November 30, the meeting on December 1 began with a prayer and opening remarks by Sophia School Corporation Chancellor Augustine Sali. The morning session was spent on reviewing this year’s AJCU-AP Service Learning Program and Global Leadership Program (both programs offered at Sophia by the Center for Global Education and Discovery as “Social Engagement Programs”), that are the AJCU-AP student programs held every summer on rotation at the member institutions. Further discussion and coordination were made on next year’s host schools and format of the programs too.
After a campus tour and lunch, follow-up reports were made on the ongoing AJCU-AP projects and initiatives that were discussed at the CEO Meeting held in Baguio, Philippines this August. Various ideas and concerns were shared on the promotion of COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) within AJCU-AP, and the development of unique educational programs as well as leadership programs based on the Jesuit educational spirit, as well as practical cases implemented at each institution. The participants confirmed that they would continue discussion and implementation to further collaboration as the consortium, which will develop into the agenda for the next CEO Meeting planned at The Beijing Center in China in August next year.
At the farewell reception after the sessions, the participants networked and shared a relaxing moment in a friendly atmosphere, and the meeting was officially concluded, with everybody looking forward to meeting again next year.
【Participating institutions】
Ateneo de Davao University (Philippines)
Ateneo de Naga University (Philippines)
Ateneo de Manila University (Philippines)
Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan (Philippines)
Sanata Dharma University (Indonesia)
Politeknik Atmi – Surakarta (Indonesia)
Fu Jen Catholic University (Taiwan)
Sogang University (South Korea)
Sophia University (Japan)
Myanmar Leadership Institute (Myanmar)
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Institute of Higher Studies (Myanmar)
Xavier Learning Community (Thailand)
The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (China)
Ricci Hall, The University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong, China)