20 November 2024
Refugees and students affected by armed conflict in Myanmar can now pursue higher education in the top Philippine universities through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
The students from the vulnerable groups in Myanmar were given the opportunity to study in the top Philippine universities in agriculture, engineering, hospitality management, and education at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), Batangas State University (BatSU), Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas (LPU-Batangas), and Saint Louis University Baguio (SLU-Baguio).
Through the USAID Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP), a five-year initiative, scholars in Myanmar are given regional and local higher education scholarships and a variety of higher education opportunities via multimodalities in several Asian countries including Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Recently, the participating Philippine HEIs signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Institute of International Education (IIE), the contractor for the DISP funded by USAID, in the presence of CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera and USAID-Philippines Director of Office of Education Michelle Chen to launch the DISP.
“The Philippines has always been a beacon of hope and opportunity, not just for Filipinos, but for those seeking refuge and a fresh start. Through the USAID Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program, we reaffirm our commitment to equitable, quality, and inclusive higher education, aiming to empower students from all backgrounds. This initiative stands as a testament to the power of international collaboration in creating a more inclusive and equitable society,” De Vera said.
“The launch of USAID’s Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is a testament to the strength of collaboration between the United States and the Philippines. This program not only supports emerging young leaders from Myanmar but also showcases the power of partnership in uplifting the region’s youth,” Chen said.
CHED worked closely with the USAID in streamlining the admissions process for students from Myanmar and providing support services to facilitate their transition to studying in Philippine HEIs.
Batangas State University has eleven (11) scholars from Myanmar who are taking Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS), and Bachelor degrees in civil engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering.
Meanwhile, the LPU-Batangas has five (5) scholars taking Bachelor’s degrees in international travel and tourism management, which are the internationally recognized programs of the institution.
In addition, the University of the Philippines -Los Baños, Philippines best university in agriculture, has four (4) scholars from Myanmar who are taking a Master’s degree in natural resource conservation and a graduate diploma in environmental planning.
Saint Louis University Baguio has eleven (11) scholars taking up Bachelor’s degrees in Nursing and Secondary and Special Needs Education, and a Master’s in Inclusive and Language Education.
Currently, DISP has the largest presence in the Philippines with thirty-one (31) Burmese scholars studying in different universities in the country.
Another batch of scholars is expected to study in the Philippines through USAID DISP next school year.
“By advancing the DISP, CHED aims to align with its broader vision of internationalizing Philippine higher education while upholding the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” De Vera said.
(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III, DPA
Chairman
Commission on Higher Education