Bunkyo University – Adachi Campus, Japan, renewed its partnership with Ateneo de Naga University (ADNU) through the second installment of Project BASE (Bunkyo-Ateneo Student Exchange), held on 1 and 2 September 2025. The initiative brought together eight International Studies students from Bunkyo, led by Prof. Akiko Watanabe, for a series of educational visits, outreach activities, and cultural immersion experiences with their Filipino counterparts.
The visiting Japanese students were warmly welcomed by ADNU student volunteers organized by Rodolfo Virtus Jr., Director of the Office of Student Affairs. Together, the students participated in institutional visits, including outreach programs at the Missionaries of the Poor in Naga City and Our Lady of La Porteria Academy in Calabanga, Camarines Sur. These visits offered insights into the care of marginalized sectors such as abandoned children, differently-abled individuals, and the elderly, as well as the Philippine basic education system.
As part of their outreach, the ADNU volunteers distributed school supplies and hygiene kits to children at the visited institutions.
In addition to these service-oriented activities, the Japanese students experienced Filipino culture firsthand through homestay arrangements with local families, and engaged in interactive cultural exchanges designed to deepen mutual understanding and appreciation between the two nationalities.
Project BASE is an extension of Project B, which was launched in 2020 to promote international dialogue and collaboration. Since its inception, the partnership has facilitated both virtual and onsite engagements. Earlier in May, students from both universities participated in online discussions tackling global issues such as education, migration, employment, environmental sustainability, and cultural diversity. These discussions highlighted how both institutions contribute to addressing these challenges.
Many of the activities under Project BASE are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly: SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through the strong collaboration between ADNU and Bunkyo; SDG 4: Quality Education, by facilitating cross-cultural learning; and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, by supporting vulnerable communities.
This ongoing partnership, strengthened by the two universities’ Memorandum of Understanding, reflects a shared commitment to forming globally-aware, socially-responsible students, and to promoting international friendships rooted in service, learning, and cultural exchange.
