Running on its 11th year, the recently-concluded European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) in the Philippines drew 9,710 students, academicians, researchers and university officials from across the country.
The EU Delegation to the Philippines expressed gratitude to the academic community for this year’s higher education fair and hopes to welcome more Filipino graduate and postgraduate students as well as researchers in the EU in the next few years to experience and benefit from the topnotch higher education institutions from the EU.
Held from October 1-2, the 2021 EHEF went virtual for the second year due to pandemic restrictions.
Commission on Higher Education Secretary and Chairperson Dr. J. Prospero De Vera underpinned the wonders of technology in creating opportunities through global cooperation towards quality higher education.
“This year’s EHEF with the theme Go Higher with EU proves that international partnerships using the magic of technology cannot only surmount the limitations of the pandemic but thrive through cooperation during the period of pandemic. Us coming here today means that we can continue to create a more diverse and more connected classroom of global citizens all working together to redefine higher education under the new normal”.
With the theme “Go Higher with EU,” this year’s Fair presented 19 structured webinars, 13 country presentations, several virtual rooms, and unlimited live chats for one-on-one consultations that enabled closer interactions between the Filipino participants and the EU higher education institutions, ambassadors, and embassy officials from Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden, and Finland.
Judge Benjamin Turgano, President of Wesleyan University said: “ We look forward to partnering with the Universities in Europe. We look forward to a more robust and interactive relationship with the higher education institutions specifically in the mobility of faculty and students, research collaborations, and even benchmarking because of the thrust of the Commission on Higher Education for transnational education”.
Dr Betty McCann, President of Silliman University said: “It is with pride and gratitude that we accepted once again the invitation to be a regional hub for the European Higher Education Fair. Silliman University recognizes that this prestigious educational fair provides an avenue for Filipinos to learn about many scholastic opportunities they may avail from renowned partner universities in Europe.
Fr Mars Tan, President of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan said: “As a participating institution, Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, I would like to thank the European Union organizers and the support institutions and partners for pursuing to have this Virtual European Higher Education Fair 2021 amidst the pandemic. With this online platform, this EHEF Fair brings right at the doorstep of our students and faculty concrete opportunities to link up with EU universities and schools. The virtual Fair offers us hope and inspiration to go higher with our dreams for brighter education possibilities abroad even with the pandemic still around us”.
Over the years, the EHEF in the Philippines has grown to become a major education fair in the country organized by the European Union Delegation to the Philippines in collaboration with EU Member States’ embassies and education services and in partnership with CHED and local higher education institutions, as well as national and local media.
Partners for this year’s Fair were (regional hubs) Wesleyan University, Silliman University, Xavier University Ateneo de Cagayan.
University partners included: LPU Batangas, Mabalacat City College, Rizal Technological University, Trinity University of Asia, University of Cordilleras, Visayas State University, Jose Rizal Memorial State University, Mindanao State University – Marawi College of Public Affairs, University of Santo Tomas, St. Louis University, and, Ateneo de Manila University.