THE Ateneo de Manila University has forged a deal on professional collaboration with the Instituto São João de Brito of Timor-Leste.

At the Chief Executive Officers meeting of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities in Asia Pacific, a memorandum of understanding was signed by Ateneo president Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ and ISJB rector Fr. Sidelizio Pereira, SJ.

Fr. Johnny Go, dean of Ateneo de Manila’s Gokongwei Brothers School of Education and Learning Design, served as a witness.

“The MOU signing signals the start of professional development collaborations through the programs of the GBSEALD and the English Department of Ateneo de Manila,” the school said.

“Thanks to GBSEALD’s endowment funds, like the Vicente Tiu Lim Teacher Education Endowment Fund, said partnership also provides Ateneo scholarships and subsidies for qualified ISJB faculty members and students taking graduate degree programs in education,” it added.

Established in 2016, Instituto São João de Brito seeks to train students to be teachers for Timor-Leste.

ISJB aims to train new leaders who will be critical thinkers skilled in their chosen fields, Christ-centered and compassionate in their commitment, especially to the underprivileged.