ENERGY and agriculture-focused Fulbright scholarships customized for individuals from conflict-affected communities in Mindanao will be developed by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), or the Fulbright Commission in the Philippines, the US Embassy in Manila announced Friday.

The PAEF signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to formalize the initiative, which will allow eligible scholars in Mindanao to pursue higher education in the United States.

MinDA Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said this deal reflects the two partners’ belief that “education is the most powerful engine of peace, progress, and prosperity.”

The PAEF signed a partnership agreement with Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), designating it as the host institution for the new exchange program called the Consortium for Study Abroad in the Philippines (CSAP).

The CSAP will bring American students and faculty to the Philippines for cultural immersion and six-week academic courses in agriculture, rural development, engineering, and business.

“The Fulbright Program is not just a scholarship program in the Philippines – it is a cornerstone of post-war Philippine intellectual and leadership development, a symbol of the enduring US-Philippine partnership, and still the single most important academic exchange mechanism between the two countries after more than 75 years,” PAEF chairperson and US Embassy Counselor for Public Affairs Jessica Simon said.

“This signing is more than a ceremonial act – it is a bold step toward empowering the people of Mindanao.”

The PAEF, established in March 1948, is a non-profit, binational organization sponsored by the US and Philippine governments.

It is the oldest continuously active Fulbright commission in the world and the oldest international scholarship program in the Philippines.

Since its founding, the PAEF has awarded grants to more than 3,000 Filipinos and nearly 1,000 Americans to pursue graduate degree study, teaching, and research in the Philippines and the US. (PNA)