ISBB was also recognised by the AFS Award for Young Global Citizens in New York and the National Sustainable Leadership Award in Education.

Sunny Varkey, Founder of the Varkey Foundation, the Global Schools Prize, and GEMS Education, said. “Congratulations, International School for Better Beginnings. Your approach to teaching and learning powerfully demonstrates how schools play a defining role in equipping young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to shape our rapidly evolving world.”

“By highlighting your achievement, we hope to inspire a global movement to reimagine learning and turn bold ideas into real-world impact. This is more than an award – it’s a platform to spark a global conversation about scaling the best ideas in education and advancing action far beyond the classroom.”

The agreement, sealed during the AACCUP Presidents’ Summit on August 14, 2025, lays the groundwork for enhanced collaboration on transnational education (TNE), research, and internationalization across SUCs nationwide. Leading the signing ceremony were British Council Country Director Lotus Postrado and AACCUP President and Chairman Dr. Anthony M. Penaso.

Under the partnership, programs will be developed to build institutional capacity in research, TNE, and internationalization. The deal also involves working with UK-based quality assurance agencies and universities, upgrading AACCUP accreditation standards to integrate internationalization metrics, and expanding English language assessments for students and staff through British Council tools such as IELTS and Aptis.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing the quality of education in the Philippines and fostering global linkages,” said Dr. Penaso.

Lotus Postrado added, “The British Council is proud to support AACCUP in its mission to elevate Philippine higher education. Through this collaboration, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and institutions to thrive in an increasingly global academic landscape.”

Both organizations will jointly conduct consultation workshops with universities and assessors to finalize new internationalization standards. The initiative is designed to support SUCs in co-developing academic programs in emerging, high-demand fields, expand faculty expertise, and open access to global academic networks.

For students, the collaboration means exposure to broader learning opportunities, international perspectives, and improved employability prospects.

“We are excited to work with the British Council to empower our institutions and educators,” Dr. Penaso emphasized.

The partnership aligns with the Philippines’ education reform agenda, focusing on inclusive, future-ready, and globally competitive higher education. Witnesses to the signing included Dr. Milabel E. Ho, Executive Director of AACCUP; Gerald T. Magno, Head of Education at the British Council Philippines; and presidents of various SUCs.

By driving innovation, research, and international collaboration, the agreement empowers SUCs to expand their global reach and prepare graduates for a fast-changing, interconnected world.

Dannah Celine Gutierrez and Marie Eirene Fabon will pursue their master’s studies in the UK later this year—Gutierrez in Renewable Energy and Clean Technology at the University of Manchester, and Fabon in Humanitarian Engineering at the University of Warwick.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, launched in 2024 under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme, seek to address gender disparities in STEM education and careers across ASEAN and Timor-Leste.

From hundreds of applicants, 11 scholars from eight ASEAN countries were chosen this year for their academic excellence, leadership potential, and vision to drive change in their home countries.

The full list of 2025 recipients includes:

1. Cambodia: Kimsrung Lov (Cyber Security Engineering, Warwick)
2. Indonesia: Aulia Nugroho and Bianca Prasetya (Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, Manchester), Rana Adwinda (Health Data Science, Manchester)
3. Malaysia: Najah Fareeha Binti Abd Rashid (Polymer Chemistry, Warwick)
4. Myanmar: Thiri Yamin Hsu (Applied Artificial Intelligence, Warwick)
5. Singapore: Lim Su Wei (Precision Medicine, Manchester)
6. Thailand: Tayida Phanich (Clinical Biochemistry, Manchester)
7. Vietnam: Trang Ngo (Behavioural and Data Science, Warwick)

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr. Kao Kim Hourn said: “This highlights the UK and ASEAN’s shared ongoing commitment to gender equality and female empowerment in STEM. By supporting girls and marginalized communities in accessing education and improving foundational learning, we aim to bridge the gender gap and foster a more inclusive and innovative future.”

UK Development Director for Indonesia and ASEAN, Amanda McLoughlin, added: “As a dedicated ASEAN Dialogue Partner, the UK is proud to support these exceptional women in STEM through the ASEAN-UK SAGE scholarships. Investing in women’s education is not just about equality. It’s about unlocking economic potential and driving inclusive development across ASEAN.”

Summer Xia, Director Southeast Asia, British Council, said: “We are thrilled to announce the second cohort of ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM scholars and can’t wait to see the impact they will make as they embark on their master’s studies in the UK.”

Funded by the UK Government and implemented by the British Council, the scholarships not only advance women’s participation in STEM but also strengthen ASEAN-UK collaboration in education under the ASEAN-UK Plan of Action 2022–2026.

For more information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please visit: https://www.britishcouncil.id/en/programmes/education/sage

For media inquiries, please contact: Naomi.nunn@britishcouncil.org

For further information on the ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships, please contact: UniPrayuti.Prayuti@britishcouncil.org Panisara.Paireepinath@britishcouncil.org

Developed by the British Council, in partnership with Cultural Associates Oxford, the program is an immersive, self-taught hybrid course. It is designed for policymakers in local, regional, and national government, as well as professionals in the cultural and creative industries in the southeast Asian region. Its latest iteration ran from October 15, 2024, to January 30, 2025.

The session “Shaping Spaces: An Immersive Exploration of Creative Placemaking” allowed participants to explore the principles of creative placemaking. This activity took place through a guided tour of Escolta’s revitalized creative hubs in the historic First United Building.

Placemaking is the practice of planning, designing, and managing public spaces to create places where people want to live, work, play, and learn. 

The speakers for this session included Mr. William Chamberlain of Creative Wick, Managing Director Robby May-Sylianteng of First United Building, Mr. Julius Redillas and Ms. Shara Francisco of the 98B Collaboratory, and Mr. Jodinand Aguillon of the HUB: Make Lab.

DTI-Creative Industries Development Office Director Lilian Salonga was also present to deliver remarks during the session.

The tour was followed by expert discussions and networking opportunities, which gathered policymakers, industry stakeholders, and creative professionals. They shared insights on the role of creative hubs in driving urban renewal, cultural tourism, and community development.

“Today is more than just a discussion—it is an opportunity to learn, exchange ideas, and reimagine how we design and develop creative spaces that are both economically sustainable and culturally meaningful. By working together, we can create inclusive, vibrant communities that celebrate creativity and innovation,” DTI-Competitiveness and Innovation Group Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut said as she emphasized the value of collaborations.

This ACE Hybrid Creative Economy Policy Training Programme aligns with the DTI’s ongoing efforts to advance creative placemaking and foster vibrant and sustainable creative ecosystems.

As part of these efforts, DTI collaborated with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the British Council Philippines to lead key programs last year. These included the Creative Nation Summit, held from August 30 to September 1, and Championing Creative Placemaking in Bacolod and Victorias: Dialogues and Capacity-Building Project, conducted from December 15 to 17. These initiatives strengthen creative communities, boost economic growth, and position the Philippines as a leading hub for cultural and creative development.

“We are thrilled to announce our 2024 grantees. This year’s CTC projects span across the archipelago – from Quezon, Leyte, Siquijor, and Siargao – reflecting the wide range of creative practices in the country,” said Andrei Nikolai Pamintuan, Head of Arts at the British Council in the Philippines.

“These partnerships celebrate the richness of artistic exchange while tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time. We look forward to seeing the transformative impact of these projects as they come to life,” he added.

UK-PH projects supported by the CTC grant:

• Bridging Communities in Music: String Ensembles in Manila and Leyte
  UK: Carmen Flores, Nottingham Chamber Music Festival
  Philippines: UP Arco, Joselle Cayatano
• Coastal Connections
  UK: Pilot Theatre
  Philippines: Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA)
• Dancing to Music You Hate: The Philippine Remix
  UK: Jasmine Gardosi
  Philippines: Leandro Reyes, Babaylanes
• Forage Friction
  UK: Freya Edmondes aka Elvin Brandhi
  Philippines: Tengal Drilon
• Growing a Field
  UK: Reneta Minoldo
  Philippines: Katherine Nuñez
• Hapag Ugnayan Potlucks: An International Exchange with Women Creatives and Land Workers
  UK: Malaika Cunningham (The Bare Project)
  Philippines: Jen Horn (Good Food Community)
• Nature KwenTour: Co-Creating Solarpunk Futures
  UK: ESEA Green Lions
  Philippines: Lokal Lab
• Shame Parade
  UK: Angel Cohn Castle
  Philippines: Ken Santos
• Swallowed by Water
  UK: Atlantic Institute-XR Lab
  Philippines: Rappler
• The Net
  UK: Lorna Nickson Brown (Copper Thread Productions)
  Philippines: Anjeline de Dios

The CTC initiative enables artists and cultural organizations to bring their creative visions to life. These grants aim to build lasting cross-border cultural ties between the UK and Asia-Pacific regions that transcend borders.

Fostering dialogue, innovation, and mutual understanding, the latest cycle of this initiative supports 84 projects across the Asia-Pacific region.

This year marks an expansion of the CTC program, now including grantees from South Asia, such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, alongside those from Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

The 2024 grantees represent a diverse array of disciplines, including film, creative technology, literature, visual arts, theatre, dance, design, fashion, craft, and music. Through these collaborations, artists and cultural organizations are addressing pressing global issues such as diversity, inclusion, and climate change.

For more details on the grantees and their projects, visit: British Council Philippines – Connections Through Culture.

Hosted by the British Embassy Manila, British Chamber of Commerce Philippines (BCCP), and British Council, the festival welcomes attendees, who can engage in a day filled with exciting activities and performances.

The festival’s theme will highlight British literature admired by Filipinos of all ages, including James Bond, Alice in Wonderland, Winnie-the-Pooh, Paddington Bear, and many more.

Cultural performances will feature adaptations of classic tales, creating a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the rich influence of British literature in the Philippines.

“The UK-Philippine trade is the highest it has ever been and the Great British Festival is one of the many ways that we can showcase that. This only shows the growing British business community and the opportunities that await more UK companies in the Philippines,” BCCP Executive Director and Trustee Chris Nelson said.

Coinciding with the UK-Philippine Friendship Day, this annual event will gather British companies and the Filipino-British community to foster stronger collaboration in various sectors including business, education, technology, and cultural affairs.

The celebration will feature key event partners PruLife UK, Shell, Pandiman, BPI, Unilever, Corio Generation, HSBC, SSI Marks & Spencer, VFS Global, PGA Cars-Bentley, BSI, Inchcape, BDO, Standard Chartered, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Radical Motors, Union Jack Tavern, Yummy Organics Food Corporation, Tao Corporation, The Borough Pizza Pub, Gridiron Shawarma x Sausage, Ginebra San Miguel, Vogue Concepts-Charles Tyrwhitt, Nord Anglia International School Manila and Drake International, McDonald’s, Philippine Airlines, and Estate Wines.

In 2023, a total of 38 companies within the financial, food and beverage, retail auto show, general business and education sectors participated, showing the increasing presence of the British business community in the country.

Filipinos who would like to pursue studies, employment, or permanent residency in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries require an IELTS, which is being offered by the British Council.

Lotus Postrado, the first female Filipino country director of the British Council Philippines, told THEPHILBIZNEWS that her organization is now “going out there.”

Postrado explained that they would like to give more “access” to education opportunities by collaborating with malls to be IELTS Fair venues, such as Shangri-La Plaza in Manila, Ayala Malls Central Bloc in Cebu, and Ayala Malls Abreeza in Davao.

The upcoming dates of IELTS mini fairs are:

August 10 – Cagayan De Oro
August 17 – Bacolod
August 31 – Cebu
September 14 – Batangas
September 21- General Santos

“It’s really more about providing opportunities because you need IELTS to pursue your dreams abroad,” Postrado added.

This year, the British Council celebrates its 90 years of promoting arts, culture, and education opportunities globally. Since its establishment in 1934, it has strengthened its presence and relationships worldwide, including in the Philippines.

Last August 2, the British Council Philippines hosted a “90s on our 90th” event, gathering different IELTS partner review centers and visa processing offices nationwide.

The British Council Philippines and its partners shared laughter, friendship, and values in IELTS Partners Got Talent-Season 2. This year’s grand champion is AUG Student Services Manila with a trip down memory lane, showcasing a 90s groove performance.

A celebration of amity and more opportunities

From April 2023 to March 2024, the British Council in the Philippines had administered over 33,000 tests. According to them, as more Filipinos are interested in studying or working overseas, the count grows every year.

The British Council Philippines celebrated its 45th anniversary last year.

With successful IELTS collaborations and registration programs, British Council Philippines now focuses on a more personalized approach like university roadshows. Such initiatives can be expected across education, arts, cultural exchanges, turning a dream into reality for Filipinos with international aspirations.

The British Council Philippines also honored its partners with awards. The top prize of the 2024 National Partner of the Year went to 9.0 Niner IELTS Review and Tutorial Center. The nine that received the 2024 National Partner Awards were: BS Migration Visa Processing Services, CEVAS Language Center, Relicus Learning Hub, De Jesus-Beltran & Co. World English Inc., MLD Marcus Review Center, Virtus Learning Hub, Pines International Academy Inc., ELA – English Language Academy, and Center for Premier International Language Studies Inc.

Certificates of Appreciation were also given to Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) as APTIS Partners. APTIS is an assessment tool that helps accurately test English language skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Among the participants are Jose Mari Callueng and Myron Dominick Manalastas from the Philippines. Callueng and Manalastas are both graduates of the Adamson University College of Law and were part of the Justice Sector Reform Programme: Governance in Justice (GOJUST II), a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the British Council. Callueng is currently a National Council Member of the Karapatan Alliance Philippines, Inc., a human rights organisation, leading campaigns for the respect of Civil and Political Rights and training community paralegals. Manalastas, on the other hand, is a recent law graduate who has actively participated in legal aid projects such as providing legal services to the poor and marginalised.

Callueng and Manalastas will join the group in London, UK, and then travel to Edinburgh to participate in learning activities, study visits, discussions, and shared experiences.

They will join other participants, a diverse group including young activists, journalists and content creators, artists, technology experts, researchers and entrepreneurs who have been involved in British Council programmes around the world.

The groups will focus on building inclusive communities and spaces, using digital technology for good, and introducing green spaces to cities.

The young people will hear from policymakers and youth organisations from across the UK while experiencing an alternative history tour of the city they visit. On their final day, the delegates will reconvene online to share experiences before travelling home to practice those experiences in their communities.

The initiative is organised in the framework of Youth Connect, a British Council global programme that supports young people and future leaders reach outside of the formal educations system by sharing skills and providing platforms for them to come together with peers from the UK, their own communities and internationally.

Kate Ewart-Biggs OBE, Deputy Chief Executive, British Council said: “90 Youth Voices is a fantastic opportunity for 90 aspirational young people from around the world to gather together and focus on the positive changes that they can make in the world and their own communities. Not only that, it is important that we learn from these young activists, journalists, creators and entrepreneurs, break down barriers and come together to act positively on the big global challenges that affect all of our lives.”

Lotus Postrado, Country Director, British Council in the Philippines, adds: “We’re thrilled to have Filipino representatives join our global celebration in the UK. The Philippines has many talented young leaders, and we are grateful to support Jose Mari and Myron as they take this opportunity to learn with global leaders and share their stories on a wider platform.”

In line with Philippine-British Friendship Day, the event gathered nearly two hundred Filipino UK alumni across the country to celebrate the achievements of British education and the enduring bilateral relations between the UK and the Philippines.

Ambassador Beaufils remarked, “Education shapes who we are and it shapes the future of our societies. It increases intercultural understanding and breaks down stereotypes. It supports the values we hold dear – equality, respect, and fairness – and gives us the tools to deliver on them. And of course, education creates life-long friendships. Education is a bridge that connects the Philippines and the United Kingdom. I am proud that this bridge is growing and strengthening every day.”

The UK has long hosted many Filipinos looking to pursue further tertiary education. In 2021/2022, UK study visa issuance for Filipinos have surpassed pre-pandemic figures. Under the prestigious Chevening scholarship, 565 Filipinos have received bursaries to study in the UK since the programme’s founding in 1984. 

“Many Filipinos who have made marks on their careers are alumni of UK universities. Recognising the role education plays as a cornerstone and catalyst towards lasting national development, the British Council has supported the fellowship of some Filipinos in UK universities and the last few years has sent around 75 TNE and ten Newton Agham PhD scholars with the support of government partners. The Philippines is a wellspring of changemakers, and we are committed to supporting these talents and endeavours in all the ways in which it has nurtured the bonds between the Philippines and the UK,” shared Lotus Postrado, Country Director of the British Council in the Philippines.

Live performances, art showcases and a short film screening featuring select alumni highlighted the event.

It also welcomed the country’s inaugural edition of the Study UK Alumni Awards. Launched in 2014, the Alumni Awards recognises and honours the outstanding achievements of individuals who have enrolled at or have received a qualification awarded by a UK Higher Education Institution within the last 15 years. 

British Chamber Executive Director Chris Nelson, notes: “This event signifies the ever-growing relations of the Filipino and British community through cultural and educational exchanges with the help of the British Embassy and the British Council. I believe that the increasing number of Filipino UK alumni will leverage the Philippines’ growth by exploring a variety of insights and trade avenues that will lead to a vibrant economy which attracts foreign investors through a more enhanced educational sector and workforce which is in line with the British Chambers’ advocacies.”

If you have studied in the UK as an overseas student, sign up on Alumni UK to grow your professional network, connect and share expertise with fellow UK alumni from all over the world, and stay up to date on future events and opportunities offered by the British Council.

With thanks to Cargo Fish, Don Revy, and Charles & James for sponsoring the event.

Participating companies include Members of the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines such as Shell, HSBC, Pru Life UK, Marks and Spencer, Union Jack Tavern, CyberQ, (PYC) One World Butchers, and (Yummy Organics) Berry Company. The Ribbon Cutting was led by Ambassador  Laure Beaufils and British Chamber’s Executive Director and Trustee Chris Nelson. This was hosted by Carol Malasig where media partners were part of the walkthrough.

Some activities include driving an F1 at the simulator and making their own bath bombs. Filipino bands covered British songs such as As It Was by Harry Styles, Here Comes the Sun by Beatles, and Wannabe by Spice Girls. The last entertainment part has been prepared by British Council. 

Participants also took photos around Abbey road and a Hogwarts-inspired backdrop — and were still able to get their passports stamped by companies with interactive games and activities. Day 2 activities focused on education, music, and arts as showcased by British School Manila students, Romeo + Juliet with a twist performance, Bite-sized Shakespeare, acoustic British-inspired songs, and film showing.

This reflects how UK businesses have grown over the years in the country. Through this event, more UK trade and investment opportunities will be highlighted – as we further liberalise the Philippine Market. 

Indeed the event has been a remarkable one – signifying the 77th diplomatic relations between the UK and the Philippines. See you at our next Great British Festival. 

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