Manila: Energy and agriculture-focused Fulbright scholarships customized for individuals from conflict-affected communities in Mindanao will be developed by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), or the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, the US Embassy in Manila announced Friday. The initiative aims to enable eligible scholars in Mindanao to pursue higher education in the United States.
According to Philippines News Agency, the PAEF signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to formalize the initiative. MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno emphasized that this deal reflects the two partners' belief that "education is the most powerful engine of peace, progress, and prosperity."
To further support this initiative, the PAEF signed a partnership agreement with Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), designating it as the host institution for the new exchange program called the Consortium for Study Abroad in the Philippines (CSAP). The CSAP will facilitate cultural immersion and six-week academic courses in agriculture, rural development, engineering, and business by bringing American students and faculty to the Philippines.
PAEF chairperson and US Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Jessica Simon stated, "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 US-Philippine partnership, and still the single most important academic exchange mechanism between the two countries after more than 75 years." She further added that "this signing is more than a ceremonial act - it is a bold step toward empowering the people of Mindanao."
Established in March 1948, the PAEF is a non-profit, binational organization sponsored by the US and Philippine governments. It holds the distinction of being the oldest continuously active Fulbright commission in the world and the oldest international scholarship program in the Philippines. Since its inception, the PAEF has awarded grants to more than 3,000 Filipinos and nearly 1,000 Americans for graduate degree study, teaching, and research in the Philippines and the US.
