The European Union continues to champion quality higher education as it launches its Virtual Hybrid European Higher Education 2022 in the Philippines on November 18-19, 2022, at Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong.

The higher education fair provides access to information and fosters partnerships between European and Filipino higher education institutions to the benefit of students, academicians and researchers. Faculty, academicians, researchers and students can now register at at http://www.ehefphilippines.com to participate in this most exciting fair. 

With the theme “Youth for Excellence and Innovation”, the EU is opening its doors for a sustainable partnership with local universities and higher education institutions. 

It is being organised by the EU Delegation to the Philippines together with the EU Member States’ Embassies, education services and Cultural Institutes and in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education.  

This year’s university partners include regional university hubs such as the Wesleyan University and the University of Cordilleras (Luzon), Silliman University (Visayas) and other top-notch Philippine universities such as Ateneo de Manila University European Studies Programme, De La Salle University, Holy Cross of Davao College, Mabalacat City Colleges, Rizal Technological University, Trinity University of Asia, University of Sto Tomas, and Visayas State University.

As a centre of excellence in higher education, the EU aims at sharing best practices and approaches from its many outstanding universities and higher education institutions (EHEIs) with their Philippine counterparts.

This partnership aims to enhance student and faculty mobility, research collaboration, joint scientific activities, curricular enhancement, and policy formulation.

Opportunities for mobility and research grants like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and Jean Monnet are open for students and educators alike.

Aside from country presentations and EHEI representatives, alumni, and scholars will conduct briefing sessions, structured seminars/ webinars on higher education and mobility opportunities and programme offerings.  A networking event will also take place on November 18 at 7:30PM at Shangri-La Plaza.

Media partners this year include Adobo Magazine, CNN Philippines, iOrbit News, Philippine Daily Inquirer – INQPOP!, The Philippine Business and News, and When in Manila.

The Fair is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, together with EU Member States’ Embassies, education services and Institutes and in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education, and supported by media partners Adobo Magazine, CNN Philippines, INQPOP!, iOrbit News, SEA Wave, The Philippine Business and News, and WheninManila.com.

EHEF will allow Filipino students, academicians, researchers, and university officials to connect directly with world-class higher education institutions from across the European Union, andthis kind of event that provides educational opportunities to the Filipino people is the biggest of its kind in the Philippines.

As the EU commemorates 2022 the European Year of Youth, the Fair’s theme “Youth for Excellence and Innovation” highlights the important role of young people in advancing education, science and research to build a better future – greener, more inclusive and digital.  

The hybrid fair will feature more than 90 higher education institutions participating on-ground and online from Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Finland and Sweden.

Useful, practical and comprehensive information about the different mobility initiatives and distinctive higher education programs will be available at your fingertips. 

“If you’re looking to pursue higher education that is a cut above the rest, then the EU is the best place for you. Beyond countless spots and diverse cultures, the EU is widely recognised as a centre of excellence and has established its educational preeminence with superior academic courses, mobility and scholarship opportunities, and cutting-edge technology,” said Dr. Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. 

EHEF participants now have more opportunities and options to explore their chosen field of studies and where to pursue them in the EU. 

The fair will feature on-site country seminars provided by the EU Member States’ Embassies and Cultural Institutes and will provide a walk through the various higher education systems, mobility, visa requirements, culture, lifestyle, and practical information.

Thematic seminars focusing on higher education systems, mobility and research grants like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and Jean Monnet are open for students and educators alike. 

This is EUr chance to be a step above the rest! Register now at ehefphilippines.com. Visit @ehefphilippines.com on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter for more information. 

COVID-19 is a global health issue and while it continues to plague the world, it underscores the need for getting countries together as well as bringing science and diplomacy. The importance of science in making decisions on our shared concerns as a global community cannot be underestimated as we have more chances of addressing our common challenges if we amplify the scientific voices when we engage with our neighbors and as we deal with the pandemic in the country. Science diplomacy, during the Madrid Declaration on Science Diplomacy facilitated by S4D4C, is taken “as a series of practices at the intersection of science, technology and foreign policy.” While there is no single definition for this concept and is not new, it is important to recognize the increasing role and relevance of science in world politics. Scientists provide critical contributions in ensuring decisions are data-driven and evidence-based as we tackle dilemmas across countries. Moreover, scientists have the ability to monitor and provide advice to policy actions in the international arena.

My former Professor Luk Van Langenhove, former Director of the United Nations University (UNU-CRIS) in Bruges, stated that we are in a new era of multilateralism where we have indicators of success in meeting global goals against global problems and where the science and tech community fully participate in. The synergy of science and diplomacy is indispensable in order for an informed and coordinated strategy to reach, for example, the Sustainable Development Goals.

H.E. Ambassador Driesmans, EU Ambassador to ASEAN remarked that, “COVID-19 has shown us that international collaboration in the field of research is now more crucial than ever. No country, no region can tackle these challenges alone. This is a principle that the research community has always known.” He said this during the launch of the EU’s Research & Innovation Programme ‘Horizon Europe’ in ASEAN held virtually last July. Horizon Europe is the EU’s key research and innovation program which aims for the creation and improvement of sharing excellent knowledge and technologies. The event organized by the EURAXESS ASEAN and supported by the European Commission attracted over 600 researchers from 47 countries in ASEAN, the European Union and beyond. The program, with an overall budget of €95.5 billion will run from 2021-2027, is designed to focus on some of the world’s biggest challenges, from cancer and climate change, food security,green and digital transformation, etc. The program offers researchers in ASEAN the possibility to collaborate with large European projects, as well as to apply for generous grants available to researchers who wish to conduct their work in Europe. It also presents opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators.

Speaking in the same event, H.E. Ambassador Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community shared that, “the future of ASEAN depends on how effectively we marshal our collective knowledge, our expertise and our resources to deal with all these challenges moving forward.”

In her Keynote Speech, Ms Nienke BUISMAN, Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Global Approach & International Partnerships, European Commission emphasized that “closer global collaboration in research and innovation means that we will be stronger in jointly finding solutions to societal challenges such as climate change, pandemics, the digital transition and aging societies. For the EU international collaboration in research and innovation is a key priority.”

Partnerships and multinational cooperation especially on areas of great interest to foreign policy such as global health, the environment, security would benefit greatly from scientists and researchers. The convergence of science and diplomacy needs to be strengthened as we collectively respond to end the crisis we are in and as we move forward to build a stronger, healthier and better world together.

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Dr. Jenny Lind Elmaco is Regional Coordinator of EURAXESS Worldwide, an initiative supported by the European Commission to promote international research collaboration. She is the Vice Chair for Asia Pacific of the Global Women Inventors and Innovators Network and received the Marie Curie Social Impact Award recently.

Full details of the Horizon Europe event including agenda, speakers’ details and event recordings are available on the EURAXESS ASEAN website.

https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/horizon-europe-launch-event-asean-information-partnering-brokerage and https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/worldwide/asean/horizon-europe-launch-event-virtual-partnering-brokerage-asean-draws-600-people