CI-Ateneo welcomes delegates from Sun Yat-sen University for the Advisory Council Meeting

The Ateneo Confucius Institute (CI-Ateneo) welcomed a delegation from Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) for a 5-day institutional visit, highlighted by the annual Advisory Council Meeting—an important gathering that alternates between Ateneo de Manila University and SYSU and guides the direction of their collaboration.

The delegation included Dr Zhongzhi Tai, Vice President; Prof Zhonglong Hu, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education; and Ms Zhantao Yu, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange.

The Advisory Council members from Ateneo were composed of:

• Fr Roberto C Yap SJ, President
• Fr Joseph Y Haw SJ, President, Xavier School
• Ms Ma. Cristina M Alikpala, Assistant Vice President, University Partnerships and Internationalization
• Dr Sidney Christopher Bata, Director, Ateneo Chinese Studies Program
• Mr Cris Gilbert Garcia, Philippine Director, Ateneo Confucius Institute
• Dr Huang Lin Jun, Chinese Director, Ateneo Confucius Institute

During the session, the Institute presented its yearly accomplishments and engaged in planning discussions to renew and expand academic and cultural collaboration with SYSU ahead of the partnership’s milestone anniversary, which is set to mark its 20th year in 2026.

During their visit, the delegation also met with Ateneo leadership and visited key partner units, including the Ateneo Center for Continuing Education (CCE), Ateneo University Partnerships and Internationalization (UPI), and the Ateneo Chinese Studies Program at the Leong Hall complex. The delegation also visited community and educational partners such as Xavier School and the Kaisa Foundation, strengthening academic, cultural, and community linkages.