What dreams do we wish to fulfill for the university five years from now?
This is a challenging question that can be addressed not just by a sole visionary’s aspirations, but more importantly, through the collective vision of the people that make up the entirety of the institution.
After seven years, the Ateneo de Zamboanga University has once again gathered its best and brightest for the school’s five-year strategic planning. Dubbed as “Conversaciones” – Charting the AdZU Pathways: Discern, Envision, and Redefine, the event was an enriching exercise of knowledge sharing, reflection, and realization. This is a two-day event that went into session last July 13, 2023 to July 14, 2023. The AdZU Lantaka Campus was a fitting and conducive venue for this vital assembly with the participants arriving in high spirits to kick-start a full day of enlightening discussions.
Resource speakers from different sectors provided an abundance of insightful and stirring inputs to boost and provide substance to the event’s conversations and plenary sharing. The brilliant individuals who graciously accepted AdZU’s invite to join in this gathering were Ateneo de Manila University Vice President for Basic Education Fr Joaquin Jose Mari C Sumpaico III SJ, Ateneo de Naga University President Fr Robert Exequiel N Rivera, SJ, and Assistant Regional Director for the National Economic Development Authority – Region 9 Ms Maria Felicidad R Guerrero for day 1 with the addition of Former Executive Director for the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities Dr Renato Redentor B Constantino, City Chief Officer for the Local Government of Zamboanga City Dr Dulce Amor D Miravite, and Associate Professor of Global Digital Media Dr Jonathan C Ong for day 2. Subjects ranged from overviews of the post pandemic academic landscape, new ways of empowering learners, rediscovering and reapplying Ignatian values, the perils of a changing climate, prevalence of illnesses in the city, fake news and disinformation, and so much more.
Following this, attendees were divided into smaller discussion groups to collate and gather ideas more efficiently through Spiritual Conversations. The approach utilized a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats system or SWOT giving every individual from the cell conversations the chance to identify and voice out root problems, pressing issues, and other points for examination. Guided by our Ignatian formation and the values and teachings of St Ignatius, the conversations seeks to glean raw ideas from the participants that will form the building blocks for the event’s ultimate purpose – the creation of a comprehensive and feasible University Strategic Plan – one that is patterned after key standards such as systematic and technology-assisted, participatory and inclusive, reflective, analytical and strategic, ethical and above all, grounded on the Ignatian Spirit.
Captaining the ship was University President Fr Guillrey Anthony “Ernald” M Andal, SJ who synthesized and processed the day’s plethora of ideas, statements, and new findings. A hearty salute goes to the event’s organizers and volunteers who exerted much for the success of this gathering. Truly, it was a day for chartering the waters wherein AdZU sails upon. A lot of things can happen in five years, but with everyone working together as one functioning and coordinated whole, AdZU can stand up confidently and face the crashing waves and howling winds of a future that can be both uncertain yet hopeful.
This is but a start – one that, with love and effort, can lead to greatness and excellence.
With fervor and passion for the mission and vision of AdZU, we proudly proclaim Pro deo et Patria – ANIMO ATENEO!
