Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) is set to deepen its peacebuilding and development work in Mindanao as it embarks on its five-year strategic direction.

Under the third focus of the Fortiores 2030 Strategic Framework launched during the convocation: Deepen our work in peace and the development of Mindanao (PDM), AdDU aims to deepen its engagement with conflict-affected areas, indigenous communities, interfaith sectors, and other regional stakeholders to promote sustainable peace and development.

It also seeks to strengthen partnerships with the BARMM government, the Davao City government, other local government units, non-governmental organizations, indigenous communities, and academic institutions across Mindanao.

University President Fr. Karel San Juan, SJ emphasized that the university’s work for Mindanao remains at the heart of its mission.

“It [AdDU] commits to the Philippines’ attainment of peace, social justice, democracy and sustainable development with focus on Mindanao,” San Juan said.

San Juan also introduced six other strategic commitments, with the first two focus on the university’s primary goals: to produce discerning and adaptive leaders (DAL) and to engage communities as prophetic leaders and citizens (PLC).

In addition, the framework includes three institutional development commitments: advancing digital capabilities and innovation (DCI), integrating teaching, research, and community engagement (TRC), and strengthening local and international partnerships (LIP).

The seventh commitment focuses on institutional processes that are strategic, synodal, and spiritual (SSS).

The university also outlined updates in its identity, mission, and values to better align with the vision of the strategic framework.

After a year-long process that started in July 2024, San Juan said the framework’s participatory creation process reflects the university’s commitment to shared governance.

“We chose the process to be participative, all members of the university community were given the chance to say something about the university, the vision, the values, intentions.”

The strategic plan’s process of creation was heavily inspired by the late Pope Francis’ legacy of the synodal way of proceeding, and particularly, the aspect of caring for nature cura naturae, draws a lot of its inspiration from his works Laudato Si and Laudato Deum, where the Jesuit pope called for global action against climate change. 

The strategic plan was finalized after a year-long process that began in July 2024.

“Fortiores 2030 is not just a roadmap; it is a renewed invitation to walk together—Fortiores in Fide,” San Juan added.

The strategic framework will formally commence within the following weeks after a period of operational planning.

Fortiores 2030 was launched last June 13 at the 4F Martin Hall, Ateneo de Davao University.