Katherine Du

Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku

Mindanao Kokusai Daigaku is a tertiary institution of the Philippine Nikkei Jin Kai in Davao City, Philippines. It started as a dream. In Davao City, the Japan Philippines Volunteer Association, Inc. (JPVA) is assisting the Filipinos who are Japanese descendants (Nikkeijin) as early as 1980. The first project was Japanese Language School and with it as a benchmark, the association trails its way to an environmental protection project, to a basic education institution, to community medical welfare activities, to educational and cultural exchanges then to a trainee's dormitory. Then the pinnacle of all dreams emerged – the establishment of a welfare college. The late Ayako Honda – Uchida dreamed of a welfare college after visiting the city many times. Touched by the deplorable conditions seen in some areas of the metropolis and the plight of the orphaned, abandoned and neglected children, she funded activities to alleviate their conditions and in the end included a donation of a substantial amount for the construction of a college building. A committee was formed to brainstorm and prepare for the opening of a college. The BS International Studies sustained its being the most saleable course. The BS Social Services joined the BSIS as the two flagship programs of the college. In a short span of time, MKD harvested grandiose accolades such as in the National Nihongo Speech Contest sponsored by the Japan Foundation, Manila. The college has coached and assisted 190 passers of the worldwide examination in Nihongo. This is the Japanese Language Profiency Test (JLPT) that comes in four levels. As of 2007, MKD has produced 167 Level V passers, 68 Level III passers, 4 Level II passers and the 2 Level I passers. MKD is established primarily to help the young Filipinos of the 21st century in the pursuit of academic excellence, in education and service to humanity alongside their goal of becoming globally competitive.