Education, education, education

Ask a European to name one of the most successful EU programme and you may be surprised when the answer is not about consumer protection or the environment but the Erasmus scholarship programme.

For 25 years the Erasmus programme has allowed students from across the EU to pursue part of their studies in one or more other universities across the continent. At an age when our minds are perhaps most receptive to new ideas, students can immerse themselves in the extraordinary diversity that is Europe, often learning a new language in the bargain. Thus the value of the scholarships went far beyond the academic allowing students to grasp the life perspective of their fellow Europeans, crushing some stereotypes — and occasionally confirming others.

Under the name of Erasmus Mundus the generous scholarships are now available to students across the globe including of course to the Philippines. Just last month 26 Filipino students left for universities across Europe, but not before an enthusiastic send off by many of the 200 Filipino Erasmus Mundus Alumni at the EU Delegation. The alumni are now back in the Philippines, using their European experience to the benefit of their country’s public and private sector, while nurturing a special bond with the European countries that hosted them.

Erasmus Mundus also supports partnerships amongst academic staff. One can point to the Visayas State University in Bay Bay, Leyte where many senior academic staff pursued their masters and doctorate studies in Europe and participate in a network of Southeast Asian and European universities. While carrying out research to eradicate a pest that attacks the valuable abaca plant they have patented a machine for the extraction of its fibre – the toughest in nature – and receive research funding from Mercedes Benz aiming to use the fibre in their world famous vehicles.

Apart from the EU Erasmus Mundus scholarship several individual EU member States provide scholarship to Filipinos. In total, more than 1200 scholarship have been granted in the last decade.

Building more of these mutually beneficial partnerships in education was the driving force behind October’s highly successful European Higher Education Fair organised with EU member State embassies. Filipino academics had the opportunity to meet representatives of 31 European universities who came to the Philippines from ten EU countries. They were here to tap the surging demand amongst many young Filipinos looking to complete their studies at one of Europe’s great universities. The word is out that when it comes to studying abroad there really is no place quite like Europe.

But the sharing and learning is two way. The number of European students in Filipino universities is also growing.

“More and better jobs” has long been a battle cry for the European Union finding today its mirror in the Philippine government’s drive for job creation and inclusive growth. We all recognize that education is a key, so as the Philippines pursues its K-12 initiative, Europe also encourages young people to continue studying beyond high school.

As the search for the tools that will allow young people to thrive and prosper in a changing world the answer is the same for both Europe and the Philippines: education, education, education.

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(Guy Ledoux is the Ambassador of the European Union)