The official Newsletter of ASEACCU – The Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic Colleges and Universities
Aseaccu Newsletter
July 2024
The Newsletter is published two times a year (Summer and Winter) by the Association of Southeast and East Asian Catholic College and Universities.
Editorial
I write this editorial from Loyola University in Seville, Spain where I am representing ASEACCU at the European Federation of Catholic Universities (FUCE). The federation represents not only European universities but also those in Lebanon and Israel. Listening to the Vice-Rector of the Catholic University of Ukraine (whose husband has been conscripted, aged 48, from his job in IT, to an air defence unit on the frontline of the current war) and colleagues from the Middle East talk about trying to run universities under the shadow of war is a deeply moving experience. Understanding the way in which Catholic universities can be places of peace-making, even as people within the universities themselves are in mortal danger is a matter that brought vividly to my mind the experience we had at St. Paul Institute, Cambodia in 2022 and the determination there of Bishop Olivier, Dr. Phon Sophal and the entire institution to be a place of reconciliation and hope in a place so scarred by strife. Please keep our colleagues in your prayers.
I am not the only ASEACCU representative here at the FUCE meeting. It was great to meet Professor Zlatko Skrbis from Australian Catholic University and to talk about our upcoming ASEACCU general assembly in Sydney in August. One great difference between our general assembly and those of the other regional associations around the world is the presence of academic faculty members and students, rather than just rectors, vice-rectors and internationalisation staff. I know that there are always great challenges in putting on a programme for students and academic faculty, at our general assemblies, and the question of cost always comes into account, but my experience here in Seville further convinces me that our model is correct. The FUCE general assembly is very interesting but it lacks the leaven in the dough provided by the presence of our academic colleagues and, most importantly, by the energy, enthusiasm and vision of our students. I strongly encourage you to come to Sydney and to bring as large a designation as you possibly can. Your students and academic colleagues will not regret participation as they build networks of friends and colleagues across Southeast and East Asia and Australasia.
This current newsletter is full of great stories about what is going on across our association. I know that, sometimes, these newsletters get stuck on the rector’s laptop or in the internationalisation office. I strongly urge you to circulate the newsletter to all your staff (academic and administrative) and your students. Understanding ourselves as members of a Catholic university within a communion of Catholic universities is so important to the distinctive intellectual formation offered in our colleges and universities. This is the unique selling point of Catholic universities. We are members, through ASEACCU and through the global International Federation of Catholic Universities, of the largest community of scholars and students in the world. Catholic Universities, as John Paul II said, were born from the heart of the Church. In fact the entire model of university education was born from the heart of the Catholic Church. Every one of our institutions that I have visited in the year and a half since I became executive secretary has been a place of remarkable difference. As I sit here at Loyola University, I sense a care for individual students and staff, a care for the truth and a care for the world absent from many secular universities. Because our colleges and universities put God first, they put genuine human flourishing first. They are not places of reductive, instrumentalised training but beacons of the hope born from a commitment to the God who is truth, and the educational approach that flows from that. This newsletter is simply one way of making everybody in our universities aware of that community, that communion, that mission but it is an important one nonetheless.
With my every good wish and prayer,
See you in Sydney!
Rev’d Professor Stephen Morgan, Rector
University of Saint Joseph, Macao ASEACCU Executive Secretariat
ASEACCU Activities & Events
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A total of four students from the University of St. La Salle’s Yu An Log-College of Business and Accountancy were chosen to partake in an enriching four-month educational and cultural exchange program at Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea.
The selected students who joined the program in February 2024 are Kirsten Ann G. Limosnero, Thea Carilla J. Chiu, Marie Charisse D. Tison, and Rasha Celine Mae B. Del Carmen. With an engaging and insightful program laid out before them, the student participants shared their experiences and reflected on how the program has enriched their lives.
"I have always been interested in learning about different cultures around the world. I find this experience as another way to form connections, make relationships, and expand my horizons," remarked Chiu, a sophomore Marketing Management student.
“My reason for joining is to seize the opportunity to meet new individuals, adapt to a new environment, and learn unforgettable experiences from another country. I aspire to grow more competent and efficient by equipping myself with global knowledge and leadership skills to work with my peers to learn," added Limosnero.
This marks the University's fourth instance, post-pandemic, of sending exchange students for International Business to Keimyung University under the CAMPUS Asia– Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) program.
The Center for Linkages and International Affairs at the University recognizes the significance of nurturing global partnerships through student exchange initiatives. These programs provide students with a global outlook and bolster their intercultural competencies.
The Bishop's Cup 2024 was held at Saint Paul Institute on May 1, 2024. Over 1,100 people from 23 different locations in the Phnom Penh Vicariate attended the event, which featured a day full of exciting football, volleyball, basketball, and petanque competitions. The events started at 7:30 a.m. and ended at 5:30 p.m.
Through the global language of sports, this yearly sporting event aimed to promote peace and harmony in addition to the joy of victory. Bishop Olivier emphasized in his speech to the attendees the value of these athletic activities in fostering interpersonal harmony and understanding, as well as openness and communities to foster joy and peace. He continued, with the approaching Olympic Games in Paris, France as inspiration, the important message of peace that is present in the spirit of sportsmanship. He reminded everyone of the significant role sports play in breaking down boundaries and fostering solidarity and peace as the globe gets ready to see athletes from all backgrounds unite on the global stage.
The headline "Sports bring health, friendship, brotherhood, forgiveness, and peace"— which is deeply rooted in sportsmanship— was the main focus of the Bishop's speech. It was a moving reminder of sporting ideals that transcend competition and promote relationships across social, cultural, and geographic boundaries. These ideals are the foundation of athletic pursuits. Bishop Olivier's Cup 2024 provided a platform for developing deep relationships and enduring friendships, in addition to the thrill of the competition. People from all walks of life gathered together, united by their love of sports and their wish for harmony and peace.
Upon completion of the competition, all athletes desire to spread the idea of sports in harmony with the community, promoting the virtues of wellness, fellowship, fraternity, and harmony beyond the playing field. Because sports bring people together and foster unity, there is hope for a more peaceful, joyful future where everyone can live in harmony.
The University of St. La Salle's College of Medicine has produced 11 new Lasallian Physicians who successfully passed the April 2024 Physicians Licensure Exam.
Results from the Professional Regulation Commission revealed that USLS's overall passing rate of 64.71 percent surpassed the national passing rate of 55.55 percent.
Out of 3,434 exam takers nationwide, only 1,906 emerged victorious. The new Lasallian doctors are: Janina Y. Camon, MD, Xerxyll Xyreane D. Linao, MD, Louie Vincent C. Martir, MD, John Anthony P. Miranda, MD, Adrian Sean V. Tan, MD, Jan Nicole N. Villarosa, MD, Jose Emmanuel D. Diaz, MD, Celdric Emrys Ilejay, MD, Jene Al L. Quingco Jr., MD, Charity M. Sorbito, MD, Angel F. Uy, MD.
The University extends its heartfelt congratulations to all passers and wishes them luck as they venture into their chosen careers, serving the last, the lost, and the least.
The 3rd AUAP Faculty Development Programme was recently held in Bangkok, Thailand from April 21 to 24, April 2024. Themed “Internationalization of Higher Education”, the program provides higher education institution’s staff with insights and skills required to become effective managers and relevant agents in the internationalization process of their higher education institutions. This year’s edition was organized by the Association of Universities of Asia and the Pacific (AUAP) in collaboration with the ASEACCU.
The opening ceremony featured a speech by Dr. Anoop Swarup, Secretary General of AUAP, who welcomed the participants to the event. One of the keynote speeches of the program “Instruments and Models for Practical Engagement in Internationalization” was delivered by Prof. Álvaro Barbosa, Vice-rector for Internationalization and Academic Affairs at the University of Saint Joseph Macao, sharing insights on internationalization trends and demands over the past five years. Dr. Magda Ferro, Head of the International Office at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, also delivered a speech on “Trends in Internationalization of Higher Education: Drivers and tools”.
ASEACCU members in attendance include Dr. Caecilia Tutyandari, Vice-rector for Collaboration and Alumni Affairs at Universitas Sanata Dharma, Indonesia, Dr. Regina Aileen May Vergara, Vice-President for Academic Affairs at University of San Agustin, Philippines, Asst. Prof. Dr. Nanthaphan Chinlumprasert and Dr. Thirawarin Bunyapipat, respectively Dean and Lecturer at Saint Louis College, Thailand, as well as from the Universidade Católica Timorense, who has applied for ASEACCU membership, Dr. João Câncio da Costa Freitas, Vice-Rector for Research & Post-Grad.
As a result of both associations’ dedication to fostering educational dialogue on an international and regional level, ASEACCU signed a partnership agreement with AUAP last year and aims to collaboratively promote opportunities for members of the Associations.
Camaraderie and a display of sportsmanship were at the forefront of the highly anticipated Animolympics 2024, hosted by the Higher Education Unit of the University of St. La Salle from April 15 to 19.
The Animolympics is the annual sports fest of the University that draws student athletes to display their passion for sports while also showcasing their colleges in competitive events.
The YuAn Log– College of Business and Accountancy secured a historic 18th overall championship title, retaining the coveted Perpetual Cup, while the College of Nursing trailed in second place.
The Animolympics is an eagerly anticipated event in every student's campus life, attracting large
numbers of spectators to staple events such as the Cheer Dance competition, Animo Dance Battles, and major team sports like basketball, football, and volleyball.
Aside from sporting events, the Animolympics also culminated its year-long search for a “Lasallian Champion,” akin to a student icon of the year. The Lasallian Champion highlights various advocacy projects from selected college representatives and showcases them to the student body in a glittering culmination event at the St. La Salle Coliseum.
This year's winner is Mailyn Francisco from the College of Education. Her victory resonated deeply with the Lasallian community, as she passionately advocated for empowering indigenous people in the province to pursue education. Additionally, Mailyn hails from the indigenous Ata tribe.
Each year, the University Student Government, together with the Office for Student Affairs, works hand in hand to deliver a memorable Animolympics experience to the students, fostering unity and school spirit.
How can higher education institutions frame the Laudato Si’ goals in terms of its mission?
This was the question that the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) grappled with in the process of developing its Laudato Si’ action plan.
ADMU signified its commitment to joining the first cohort of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform in September 2021, and officially launched this aspiration to become a Laudato Si’ University last November 2022 with a reflection video. The following year, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, ADMU’s Laudato Si’ plan for the 7-year journey, 2022-2029, was submitted to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform (LSAP).
The Laudato Si’ Plan of the Ateneo was developed based on discussions in a multi-sectoral group around initiatives that would be feasible yet with the potential to be transformative in our community. It represents our efforts to make sense of the 7 Laudato Si’ goals in terms of the focal areas of an educational institution– education, research and service or extension– and embodies our aspirations to promote leadership and innovation in integral ecology in our own context. Central to the framework is the theme of Ecological Conversion. Holistic and impactful education infused by Ignatian spirituality is at the core of our mission.
The Laudato Si’ calls for a cultivation of an ecological spirituality, and by aligning our educational philosophy, we can catalyze ecological conversion in our community. “Education” in this sense needs to recognize the interconnectedness of systems. Within the context of a university, there are different stakeholders, both internal and external, the physical infrastructures and resources, and the interactions among them, given existing values, policies, norms, guidelines and culture in general. These interconnections are important in systems, so an ecological approach to stewardship would be one that more deliberately seeks to identify divides that must be bridged and connections that must be strengthened. Thus, the two other themes in the framework reflect the roles of the university as a living laboratory for place-based pedagogy, and as an enabler of social transformation. These are both anchored on and contribute to the theme of ecological conversion in that they provide concrete experiential opportunities to live out the principles of integral ecology.
The ADMU Laudato Si’ Framework
Envisioning the University as a living laboratory refers to embodying integral ecology in university grounds, decisions, processes and operations in an evidence-based approach. In this way, the university “practices what we preach”– we demonstrate the principles of integral ecology and inculcate them into our stakeholders, which include not just the students but also the administrators, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and other partners. Envisioning the University as an enabler for social transformation refers to our mission to ensure that resources are equitably shared, especially to those who are marginalized, through service learning, extension and community engagement and empowerment. Thus, the entirety of life of the Ateneo community should work towards promoting ecological conversion. The centrality of this theme highlights the unique contribution of the university in terms of the Ignatian spiritual formation of its stakeholders, imbued with the spirit of care for creation as reflected in the Laudato Si’.
Over the past year, under the Ecological Conversion theme, the University’s sub-cluster on Ignatian Spirituality and Formation, together with the Campus Ministry Offices from Basic Education to Higher Education, has spearheaded various activities – masses, retreats, seminars – highlighting the principles of the Laudato Si’ and integral ecology. Innovative opportunities for formation were also developed and implemented, such as forest-bathing experiences that allowed participants to immerse in nature and to reflect on our interconnections and relationships with nature. But students and staff need not stray too far from campus to meditate in nature! Together, the ISF cluster and the Central Facilities Management Office have developed garden areas on campus for reflection and meditation away from distractions and noise.
[Mass and meals at the Mt. Purro Nature Reserve as part of the forest-bathing experience.]
The academic units have also been working on identifying integration points for Integral Ecology into the curriculum, to ensure that students are not only academically proficient but also conscious of and committed to their responsibility to care for our common home. The Ateneo Grade School, for example, created modules for students as young as the kinder level to introduce the Laudato Si’ and integral ecology and complemented this with a Laudato Si’ exhibit last September 2023 and the launching of a Laudato Si’ garden with vegetables and hydroponics, and which will be developed into a landscape where students can appreciate human-environment interactions and learn how our consumption and wastes impact the ecosystem. Training opportunities were also offered to student leaders last March 2024. In the higher education schools, interdisciplinary electives have been developed and piloted, such as a course on Integral Ecology for Socio-ecological Problem-solving. Sustainability principles are being incorporated into research and service learning experiences, and even entrepreneurial programs are being required to embed sustainability in operations and supply chains.
[Ateneo Grade School Laudato Si’ exhibit]
To better transform the University into a living laboratory for Laudato Si’, the University has launched the development of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and a Climate Action Plan (CAP) through multi-sectoral working groups. The BAP codifies the guiding principles, activities, targets, and metrics that will maximize the potential and impact of campus biodiversity and nature spaces for teaching and learning, research, conservation, and outreach and service. The CAP will embody the University’s commitments to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including a target to be carbon neutral by 2030. In addition, the University continues to promote a “zero waste” philosophy and to rethink the “throw-away culture” through events such as the RE-Fair. RE-Fair, held last March 2024, was a pilot sustainability community event for Ateneo students and employees to learn skills for repairing, to gain insight into community behaviors associated with generating waste from personal items, and to connect with other advocates. The event was an avenue for curious minds to engage with sustainability champions in workshops on clothes mending, waste segregation, and basic bike maintenance.
[The nanays (mothers) of Solidarity with Orphans and Widows teaching Ateneo students how to make basic clothing repairs]
Lastly, under the theme of Social Transformation, the Social Development, Environment and Community Engagement (SDECE) subcluster, through Gawad Kalinga (GK) Ateneo, has trained 290 community members nationwide in community development workshops since November 2023. These capacity-building initiatives, enhanced by a session on Laudato Si’ seek to enhance the community development skills of ADMU partner communities and to improve their organizational and social development outcomes. The session on Laudato Si’ not only reminded participants to sustain the efforts they undertake in the community but also emphasized the urgency to work together with other groups to expand the reach of caring for our common home.
GK Ateneo is also currently piloting the 5M Approach to Zero Hunger in adopted communities in collaboration with GK Kusina ng Kalinga (KnK). Since the pilot workshops began last March, 55 community leaders and mission workers have been trained to be feeding program implementers.
[Interactive activities in community development workshops in Visayas]
Moving forward, ADMU will continue building on these three integrated themes, and expand involvement of the community in Laudato Si’ initiatives. Development and implementation of this aspiration to become a Laudato Si’ university has been a learning experience, and we know that as a community, we still have more to do in terms of engaging different stakeholders in meaningful dialogue and transformative action. This Journey represents our commitment to shaping our University into an exemplar of excellence in sustainability and to creating vibrant community ecosystems that live out the principles of integral ecology.
A total of four students from the University of St. La Salle’s Yu An Log-College of Business and Accountancy were chosen to partake in an enriching four-month educational and cultural exchange program at Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea.
The selected students who joined the program in February 2024 are Kirsten Ann G. Limosnero, Thea Carilla J. Chiu, Marie Charisse D. Tison, and Rasha Celine Mae B. Del Carmen. With an engaging and insightful program laid out before them, the student participants shared their experiences and reflected on how the program has enriched their lives.
"I have always been interested in learning about different cultures around the world. I find this experience as another way to form connections, make relationships, and expand my horizons," remarked Chiu, a sophomore Marketing Management student.
“My reason for joining is to seize the opportunity to meet new individuals, adapt to a new environment, and learn unforgettable experiences from another country. I aspire to grow more competent and efficient by equipping myself with global knowledge and leadership skills to work with my peers to learn," added Limosnero.
This marks the University's fourth instance, post-pandemic, of sending exchange students for International Business to Keimyung University under the CAMPUS Asia– Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) program.
The Center for Linkages and International Affairs at the University recognizes the significance of nurturing global partnerships through student exchange initiatives. These programs provide students with a global outlook and bolster their intercultural competencies.
