Luc Veron, the European Union (EU) ambassador to the Philippines, heard the same thing many Filipinos have heard from their parents: “Your education is your only inheritance.”
Bless their hearts, the ambassador said, his parents lived up to their words.
“Education is a fundamental right, it opens opportunities to better understand the world we live in,” said EU Ambassador Veron as he highlighted the importance of quality education at the virtual launch of the 2021 European Higher Education Fair (EHEF), themed “Go Higher with EU”.
Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, the fair is pushing through online on Oct. 1-2. “By going virtual,” Veron said, “we have more higher education institutions promoting their programs”.
This edition will be its biggest yet, with 140 European higher education institutions joining the two-day fair offering post-graduate programs (MA and PhD) to talented Filipinos wishing to study in EU member states Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden, and, for the first time ever and bringing the most number of institutions to the event, Poland.
“EU wants to give Filipino students access to education, and we also want to underscore the importance of mobility innovation and lifelong learning,” shared Veron, adding the program helps “establish connections” between the Philippines and EU through exchange students, scholars, and researchers.
Participants can look forward to two days of activities including webinars on specialized courses and programs, country presentations, and live chats with representatives, alumni, and scholars from participating institutions.
They can also get more information about the Erasmus Mundus, the EU scholarship program that sends and financially supports Filipino students.
Lily Freida Milla, OIC deputy executive director of the Commission on Higher Education, said 65 Filipinos under the Erasmus program “will be embarking on their educational journey in the EU this year”.
“The Philippines has always been in the top 10 countries in the application for the Erasmus program,” said Veron.
Ace Dela Cruz, an Erasmus scholar who studied at University of Warsaw in Poland, said the program allowed him to understand and empower himself and others. “The program went beyond academic studies and gatherings or travels, it was more about nurturing a deeper sense of self.”
According to Veron, “one of the reasons we have this fair is to allow Filipino students to assess the education opportunities and living opportunities in the EU.”
For Elaine Caoibes, taking up International Business in Finland has opened her to many opportunities.
“Prior to my current work in a multinational company, I have also experienced working in a Finnish government agency and several other case companies. I have attended courses and events from partner universities abroad, and if it weren’t for the pandemic, I would’ve gone for a student exchange in which the university supports financially. I have also worked part-time and earned some money during my studies.”
To join the virtual fair, register at www.ehefphilippines.com.