APC’s partnership with Jesuit Worldwide Learning: Learning together to strengthen community, culture, and land

Education goes beyond the classroom in APC. Education here is a way to support marginalized communities where learning happens in culture and land. Through its partnership with Jesuit Worldwide Learning (JWL): Higher Education at the Margins, APC continues to create opportunities that bring higher education to students and teachers.

JWL’s mission is to remove barriers to education by offering globally accredited programs through a combination of online and in-person learning. The programs follow the Ignatian approach, which focuses on developing the whole person – intellect, character, and a sense of service to others.

There are two unique features of this system that make the JWL program work effectively at APC.

First is the JWL learning platform that bridges the gap between online and onsite learning. A virtual space is created that connects students, onsite facilitators, online faculty, the registrar team, academic directors, and university partners.

The Admissions Portal (AP) and the Student Information System (SIS) facilitate student application management, class enrolment, validation of student documents, plagiarism reports, and overall academic quality assurance.

The Learning Management System (LMS) that can be web-based or accessed through an Android application, offers tailored e-learning solutions for areas with low Internet bandwidth. It provides both offline and online access to learning content, fosters engagement in global classrooms, generates student performance reports, and provides students with support and guidance from faculty, facilitators, and the helpdesk. This multifaceted approach enables learners to access quality education regardless of their geographical location or connectivity constraints. This is crucial for effective operations and timely response.

The second feature is the dedication and energy of APC staff to implement the JWL programs. The APC Center Coordinator oversees onsite organization and logistics and functions as Onsite Facilitator for the professional and academic courses by communicating with online facilitators and faculty about course activities and facilitating all onsite course requirements. The Local Facilitator for the Global English Language (GEL) program conducts onsite placement tests, classes, and activities of the course and helps the coordinator in planning out the program schedules. They do the essential accompaniment for our JWL students enabling focused engagement that pave the way towards course completion.

APC students in Grades 10, 11, and 12 participate in JWL’s Global English Language (GEL) Program. They take placement tests provided by Cambridge University Press & Assessments to match their English skills with the right course level. In addition to language courses, JWL offers other short-term programs, certificates courses, associate, bachelor and master’s degrees. These are available to APC staff and teachers to help them grow professionally.

With JWL courses and the GEL program, APC students, teachers, and staff are given opportunities to interact with peers from other learning centers, encouraging open communication, fostering leadership and a shared commitment to peace. Graduates of these programs are not only improving their own lives but also becoming leaders and role models in their communities. This balance of global connections and local impact is a key part of JWL’s and APC’s shared mission.

With over 10,000 learners in more than 30 countries, JWL’s programs have become a driving force for social and educational change. APC is proud to be one of its learning centers, continuing to offer these life-changing opportunities to students and educators in Mindanao.

This partnership is crucial for bridging gaps in education for indigenous and marginalized communities, particularly in the uplands. The success stories from APC show how access to quality education can empower individuals to become leaders and drive positive change in their communities.