Education

Australian Catholic University (ACU) intends to offer the Diploma in Liberal Studies to a new cohort of refugee students on the Thai- Burma border in 2010-2011. Coordinator, Duncan MacLaren, visited Thailand in February 2010, partly to tutor on the Third World Politics unit offered online by Fairfield University, Connecticut, partly to set up interviews to select a new cohort of students starting in late September 2010. The refugee students may now be joined by another important group among ‘people on the move’ – migrants, both legal and illegal.

Jesuit Commons is an initiative spearheaded by Mr Chris Lowney, author of the books "Heroic Leadership" and "Heroic Living". It was presented at the International Conference on Jesuit Higher Education in Mexico last April 22 – 24. Mr Lowney personally invites Jesuits and lay partners to be a part of Jesuit Commons.

“The Malatesta Program is envisioned as a person-to-person exchange based on Fr. Ricci's model of establishing friendships among Chinese and American scholars, and providing opportunities for intellectual and cultural exchange through lectures, academic conferences, and joint research and publications. The objective of the program is to promote academic collaboration through an exchange between faculty and graduate students at the three California Jesuit universities and those at selected Chinese universities.” wrote John P. McGarry, Provincial of California.

On the eve of worldwide commemoration of the fourth hundred anniversary of Matteo Ricci’s death (1610), The Macau Ricci Institute, faithful to the cultural and intellectual heritage of its great patron, held on November 25-27 its International Symposium dedicated to the intellectual and humanistic Jesuit formation that Matteo Ricci has brought to China.

“Conversations 2009” in Davao amongst the universities and apostolates brought a clear focus to what Jesuit institutions can do, even though they may not seem to be the experts. Clearly it is everyone’s concern and interest to adapt in the face of climate change. Davao, already expecting to have a dryer climate in the future, is sure to draw up numerous responses.

CHICAGO, November 2, 2009 In October, as part of its formal partnership with the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training, Loyola University Chicago jointly developed and conducted a University Management Training (UMT) program with Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCMC) to provide leaders of Vietnamese universities the opportunity to learn about best practices in U.S. higher education and to evaluate their applicability to the Vietnamese higher-education setting.

Fr David Yen (CHN), director of Fu Jen Catholic University Service-Learning Centre in Taipei reports that a group of students and teachers from the University participated in a service trip to work in the houses for the dying in Kolkata, India that were founded by Blessed Mother Teresa. In fact, for a number of years, the Catholic University in Taiwan has been organizing yearly service trips visiting such places as India, Mongolia, Cambodia and parts of Taiwan where those most in need live. These missionary experiences of charity are aimed at help

UNESCO continued its review with Fr Pedro Walpole (PHI) of the teaching through Pulangiyen, a mother tongue based curriculum at Apu Palamugwan Cultural Education Center (APC) near the Bukidnon/Agusan province boundary in Mindanao, Philippines. Working from the indigenous culture that is seeking ancestral recognition of rights from the government, the relationship of education and the land has become increasingly important.

Fr Paul Dass (MAS) will be coming to Taunggyi, to be the Director of Gonzaga Language Institute. Paul will begin his work around the beginning of January 2010. While waiting for his arrival, Ms Irene Ho continues to do both jobs as Director and Principal. When Paul arrives, and has his introduction to the ministry, he will take over the position of Director, and Irene will continue as Principal.

Though the cold season still embraced the land from Down-Under, the hosts for this year's Annual Meeting gave their very warm welcome to the participants of the AJCU EAO. Hosted by Fr Frank Brennan and the Australian Province, the members of the AJCU EAO enjoyed Australian hospitality during their stay at Canisius College last 25 – 27 August.