Preparing students as globally competitive nation-builders: a key driver of internationalization at The Ateneo de Manila University

Abstract

We present the internationalization efforts at the Ateneo de Manila University, a Catholic Jesuit-run modern university in the Philippines considered to be one of the best in the country and in Asia. Internationalization is pursued vigorously in the Ateneo, nonetheless only as a means to strengthening its student leadership formation to prepare the students as globally competitive nation-builders. Literature survey, interviews with key school administrators and thematic analysis of their various speeches, addresses and presentations reveal various drivers, modes and perceived outcomes of an internationalized student leadership formation in the university.