The 3rd Faculty Development Programme, co-organised by the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) and the University of Saint Joseph Macao (USJ), successfully took place from July 10 to 12, 2023, at the USJ Ilha Verde Campus, Macao.
This edition, themed “Internationalization in Higher Education”, had the key objective of providing higher education managers and administrative staff within the AUAP community to become more effective agents in the internationalization process of their institutions. The programme welcomed keynote speeches from the Secretary General of AUAP, Dr. Anoop Swarup and former AUAP President and Chairman of the AUAP Advisory Council, Dr. Peter P. Laurel, to present respectively on the trends in Asia-Pacific Higher Education and AUAP as an internationalization platform in Asia.
At the opening ceremony, the Rector of USJ, Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan, shared the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic when bridging academic endeavors internationally, particularly for internationalization initiatives such as the Faculty Development Programme, and emphasized that continued efforts in internationalization within the current globalized intellectual sphere will be essential.
Vice-rector Álvaro Barbosa echoed this sentiment during his presentation with the Director of Saint Paul Institute in Cambodia, Mr. Phon Sophal, on behalf of Dr. Glen Chatelier from Assumption University of Thailand, when introducing the association of ASEACCU as a platform of internationalization and sub-networks in Asia. To strengthen collaboration ties and exchange opportunities between South-east and East Asian higher education institutions, it was also proposed that AUAP and ASEACCU officially sign an MOU.
The Programme was attended by overseas and local scholars, higher education administrators and delegates from various ASEACCU member institutions. Speakers include Mrs. Madga Ferro, Head of the International Office at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Prof. Maria Cecilia Cuison, Director of the Office for Student Affairs at the University of Santo Tomas Philippines, Mr Phon Sophal, Director of Saint Paul Institute in Cambodia, and Dr. Catherine Castañeda and Ms. Nestley Sore from Adamson University, Philippines, as well as presenters from USJ Macao, Prof. Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-rector for Internationalisation and Academic Affairs, Dr. Teresa Loong, Vice-rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Adérito Fernandes-Marcos, Dean of the Doctoral School, Prof. Rochelle Ge, Dean of the School of Education, Prof. Karen Tagulao from the Institute of Science and Environment and Mr Joshua Lash-Ballew, Regional Manager of International Affairs, and Prof. Ansoumane Douty Diakité, Head of the Department of Law and Public Policy, moderator for the two-day sessions.
The Programme concluded with a cultural tour for visiting participants through the distinctive UNESCO Heritage Historical Centre of Macao.
Source: USJ News
*This article has been updated for publication in the ASEACCU newsletter.