23 October 2024
To boost internationalization of the higher education sector of both countries, the Philippines, through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), strengthened its enduring education cooperation with Australia in its latest meeting with the Victoria Minister for Higher Education, Skills, and TAFE.
CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera, joined by Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega, Consul General to Melbourne Ma. Lourdes Salcedo, and UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, met Victoria Minister Gayle Tierney to discuss additional opportunities to engage in academic and research partnerships focused on niche and priority programs.
“President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed higher education to continue to internationalize and make sure that we maintain our niche in terms of producing world class professionals in specific fields. This includes medicine and allied health sciences, engineering, maritime education, IT, emerging professions like animation and game development,” De Vera said.
“Aligned with the directives of the President, the Philippine delegation in Australia push for education partnerships that will help boost the global competitiveness of programs and professions that the Philippines is known for,” De Vera added.
“The ministry commits to continuously cooperate with the Philippine higher education sector and the vocational education sector. We are very willing to facilitate and connect you with higher education institutions in the state so that your visit can be as fruitful as possible particularly in your areas of interest and those that will mutually benefit both our countries,” Tierney said.
In this Australia education mission, CHED Secretary De Vera was joined by University of the Philippines – Manila (UP Manila) Chancellor Michael Tee, who is negotiating a partnership with Monash University for the development and offering of forensic science in the Philippines for skills development of law enforcers in the country.
Meanwhile, Caraga State University (CSU) also joined the Philippine delegation to push education cooperation and joint initiatives to advance their mining engineering program to ensure they are at par with the global standards, particularly in Australia where mining is a major activity.
Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU) aims to partner with Australian HEIs for TNE Programs in the areas of nursing, physical therapy, medical technology, pharmacy and HRM.
“Most of the Philippines HEIs that are with me on this visit have an existing signed agreement with HEIs here in Australia signed before the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal of this mission is to refresh, strategize and strengthen these existing partnerships and explore new opportunities and areas, particularly on our strength and priority programs and those that emerged during the pandemic and post-pandemic, for education cooperation,” De Vera said.
De Vera was also joined by heads and representatives of a total of 11 HEIs that aim to explore opportunities for international cooperation on their programs of strength and interest.
Among the HEI leaders present are President Rolyn Daguil of CSU, President Gabriel Salistre of ISAT-U, President Jaime Manuel of DMMSU, President Erwin Cadorna of UNP, Chancellor Michael Tee of UP Manila, Dr. Virgilio Julius Manzano of MMSU, Dr. Agham Cuevas of UP Los Banos, Dr. Jocelyn Tizon of SISFU, Dr. Elaine Detera of Arellano University, Dr. Teresita Medado of APC, and Dr. Caroline Enriquez of Our Lady of Fatima University.
(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Chairman
Commission on Higher Education