In a bid to expand academic opportunities in the country’s south, the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) – also known as the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines – has signed new agreements with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) to roll out new scholarship and exchange program in the region.
PAEF and MinDA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop customized Fulbright scholarships to individuals from conflict-affected communities in the region. The selected scholars will pursue advanced academic and professional training in the United States, with programs focused on energy and agriculture.
A separate agreement with Ateneo de Davao designates the university as host for a new exchange program called the Consortium for Study Abroad in the Philippines (CSAP). The program will bring American students and faculty to the country for cultural immersion and six-week academic courses in agriculture, rural development, engineering, and business.
“The Fulbright Program is not just a scholarship program in the Philippines—it is a cornerstone of post-war Philippine intellectual and leadership development, a symbol of the enduring U.S.–Philippine partnership, and still the single most important academic exchange mechanism between the two countries after more than 75 years,” PAEF Chairperson and U.S. Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Jessica Simon said in a statement.
MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said the partnership is a bold step toward empowering the people of Mindanao.”
“Through this Memorandum of Understanding, MinDA and the Fulbright Commission reaffirm a shared conviction: that education is the most powerful engine of peace, progress, and prosperity,” he said
Fr. Antonio Basilio, S.J., ADDU vice president for higher education, said CSAP “aligns with the University’s mission to advance research, innovation, and the formation of graduates committed to service and leadership.
Established in 1948, PAEF is the world’s oldest continuously operating Fulbright commission. It has awarded scholarships to more than 3,000 Filipinos and nearly 1,000 Americans for graduate study, research, and teaching exchanges.
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