The Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), or the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, has signed new partnerships with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) to expand educational opportunities, foster cultural exchange, and promote American excellence in higher education across Mindanao. The partnerships include a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with MinDA to develop customized Fulbright scholarships for individuals from conflict-affected communities in Mindanao to pursue advanced studies and professional development in the United States, and another MoU with ADDU to host a new exchange program called the Consortium for Study Abroad in the Philippines (CSAP), which will bring American students and faculty to the Philippines for cultural immersion and academic courses. According to PAEF Chairperson Jessica Simon, the Fulbright Program is a cornerstone of post-war Philippine intellectual and leadership development and a symbol of the enduring U.S.–Philippine partnership. The partnerships aim to empower the people of Mindanao through education, which is seen as the most powerful engine of peace, progress, and prosperity. Established in 1948, PAEF is a non-profit, binational organization that has awarded grants to over 3,000 Filipinos and nearly 1,000 Americans to pursue graduate degree study, teaching, and research in the Philippines and the United States.
