Photo Courtesy of XU Library American Spaces
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), headed by Dean Judy P Sendaydiego, welcomed Ateneo de Zamboanga University’s School of Liberal Arts, headed by Dean Robin A De Los Reyes, for a collaboration meeting at American Spaces on 28 November 2025.
Photo Courtesy of Development Communication Department
As members of the Mindanao Ateneo Consortium, ADZU and XU, through XU CAS and the School of Liberal Arts, explored areas of collaboration across commonly offered programs: Development Communication, English Language and Literature, History, International Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, Theology, and Lifelong Learning. The collaboration aims to expand the networks of XU-CAS and ADZU’s School of Liberal Arts in the areas of instruction, research, academic exchanges, mobility, formation and social engagements. It also strengthens CAS's efforts to reinforce interdisciplinarity within the college. The engagement with ADZU is part of CAS’s commitment to strengthen ties with other Jesuit institutions in Mindanao.
In attendance during the meeting were XU-CAS Department Chairpersons Dr Arlene Yandug (English Language and Literature), Mr. Derrick Bart Pimentel (Philosophy), Ms Rechelle Ann Barraquias (Development Communication), Ms Maria Celeste Sagarbarria (Psychology), Ms Ruby Jane Rivera (History and International Studies), and Mr Peter Rufino Baltazar (Theology). Also present during the meeting were ADZU’s counterpart Chairpersons Dr Ailyn Absara (Psychology), Dr Michelle Reyes (Languages), Mr Hezekiah Concepcion (Social Sciences), Mr Joel Porras (Philosophy), Mr Rodel Salgados (Religious Studies), and Mr Joseph Climaco (Graduate Programs).
The long term outcomes of the collaboration meeting are expected to result in faculty and student exchange, delivery of courses in hybrid setup, designing compressed week-long modular classes, ADZU faculty and student publication in XU in collaboration with Kinaadman and the Xavier Center for Mental Health, and microcredentials development with the Xavier Center for Lifelong Learning.