The TUA and CJCU Program- Mentor-Mentee Strategy

The TUA- CJCU Program started two years ago through the initiative and collaborative effort between two equally vibrant and globally-oriented Christian HEIs. The goal was to develop an educational network between the two universities by bringing and inviting into TUA some students from CHANG JUNG CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY to deepen and broaden their knowledge and practice of the English Language.

The Trinity University of Asia and CJCU Program is under the College of Hospitality and Tourism Management. It is already on its 2nd year and still progressing. In 2019, the first year of the implementation of the program, there were 23 Taiwanese students accompanied by Director  Wenpin  Jason Su, had enrolled in academic subjects offered in TUA.

In February of the current year, the second batch of Taiwanese students from CJCU enrolled in TUA’s CHTM Program for the duration of one semester mainly in courses offered by the host college like Global Tourism, Geography and Culture, Travel Writing and Photography, Purposive Communication, Domestic Tourism, International and Regional Cuisine with Laboratory, Rhythmic Dance, and English Language Community Outreach.

In attending the regular English Language Acquisition class, ten Freshmen   English major Education students under the College of Arts, Sciences and Education were assigned as mentors to 23 students from one of TUA’s International partner schools, Chang Jung Christian University ( CJCU) of Taiwan to help the said Taiwanese students  enhanced the English Language. Each student from CJCU was assigned a mentor or a student buddy to guide as each acquire different skills in English Language.

The Education students extended their tasks to touring their mentees to beautiful places in the areas like Cubao, Tomas Morato, Mc Kinley in Taguig and not to forget E. Rod. STARBUCKS.  It was not difficult for the TUA community to offer what they could for the success of the orientation and campus familiarization tour which was so inspiring.

Another initiative worth mentioning was the Trinitians and Taiwanese students had informal fellowships, conversations, and meals which all convinced the visiting CJCU students that TUA was in fact their second home.  These gestures of our students created a close bond with the Taiwanese students who unfortunately had to return to their country due to the unprecedented  Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the fact that the Taiwanese students had to be sent back home to Taiwan during the initial phase  of the lockdown, the distance between the TUA Mentors and the Taiwanese Mentees did not stop the communication and the teaching –learning process. With the aid of the advancement in technology, the process continued.

We must admit, it is the beauty of the Christian University, be it TUA or CJCU. It is for this reason that the students, faculty and staff of both TUA and CJCU are in an ongoing conversation of what it means to be a Christian in this day and age characterized by globalization; and in the process such partnership has helped them both discover the richness of their shared Christian tradition. And so, may the ties that bind the TUA and CJCU communities continue to create meaningful memories together to carry on what they have been called to do.