From the University President

Bridging divides and being persons for and with others

Fr Bobby Yap SJ

It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through the year. This August, we began a new academic year, filled with gratitude for everyone who made the past year a success.

From our administrators, faculty, students, and staff to parents and alumni, everyone’s actions demonstrated once again how entrenched our Ignatian roots are, and how truly committed we are to the values we’ve long espoused as an institution: integrity, service, hope, and justice, among many others. The members of the community persevered, dedicating knowledge, skills, resources, time, and energy to ensure we advance our shared mission in education and formation.

As the new school year opens, I feel energized to be an Atenean. And I hope that you do, too. After all, there is much to be excited about. 

In June, we made our debut appearance in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Ranking. Ateneo de Manila is ranked 84, the highest-ranked Philippine institution, and the only one in the top 100. These rankings use the same performance indicators as the World University Rankings but are recalibrated to reflect the “priorities of Asian institutions.”

The performance indicators are grouped into five areas:

1. Teaching (the learning environment)

2. Research (volume, income, and reputation)

3. Citations (research influence)

4. International outlook (staff, students, and research)

5. Industry income (knowledge transfer)

You may view the list here. 

And that’s not all. In another university ranking table, also released by the THE in the same month, we ranked 201–300. The THE Impact Rankings, which measures and assesses universities against the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), drew 1591 universities across 104 countries and regions. We participated in all 17 SDGs and excelled in five: Goal 1 - No Poverty, Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy, Goal 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. The report is available on the THE website, as well as on our own. 

Among the Philippine institutions that were included, Ateneo de Manila ranked first. But more than the ranking, we are committed to helping tackle the SDGs and respond to the call to create a sustainable present and future. As our Lux-in-Domino 2030 strategic plan outlines, we strive to lend our voices and share our knowledge and resources to empower our community to contribute and effect changes toward a just, inclusive, and sustainable society. 

On the home front, we recently created Tagpuan: Center for Dialogue, Research, and Collaboration. The Center hopes to work toward the University’s Magis Aspiration: Bridging Cultural Divides, with its objective of “committed collective action to solve ‘wicked problems’ by transcending cultural differences across social, economic, political, and other divides.” 

Tagpuan is envisioned as a space to create dialogue tools, knowledge, and networks and help advance Pope Francis’ Fratelli Tutti/Culture of Encounter. The Center will be housed under the Office of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences. As members of the ever-growing Ateneo de Manila alumni community, your Ignatian values have molded and shaped you. And so I hope that, as effective advocates of dialogue and reconciliation, you will open your hearts and minds and connect with us in Tagpuan.

The year 2023 also marks the 50th anniversary of the seminal address given by Fr Pedro Arrupe SJ—his exhortation that inspired and changed the course of Jesuit education. Half a century later, we still have conversations about Fr Arrupe’s words, deepening our focus and desire to be men and women for-and-with others. Do we educate for justice and form persons for others? What does it mean to be a person for others today? 

Some of our school units have rolled out activities and laid out plans for the school year in line with these reflection points. As I wrote in a memorandum, the Mission Integration Cluster will provide spaces for various groups to reflect on Fr Arrupe’s message. 

My fellow Ateneans, I’m grateful that you have taken Fr Arrupe’s words to heart, doing extraordinary acts of service, kindness, bravery, and sacrifice. Your stories are heart-warming—uplifting our spirits and inspiring us to do better for ourselves and the world. I invite you to approach the Mission Integration Cluster (through sdece@ateneo.edu) to continue the dialogues.

May Fr Arrupe’s words shake, stir, and embolden our hearts to spread God’s love and mercy to all!