Capital investment in people

A lot is written about the need for investment. Finance and infrastructure are, of course, important. Investment in human capital is even more vital. The ambition of the UK in the Philippines is to invest in the education of people who will not only be influential but also commit to use their knowledge to help shape the future of the country.

The decision by the Philippine Government to move to K to 12 was both bold and essential. The transition is undoubtedly proving to be a challenge for teachers and institutions but the end result will be employable high school leavers and mature, more credible, holders of university degrees who will be of comparable standard to international peers. In very moving scenes across the country, as students cross rivers and walk on rough pathways, the hunger for learning and the weight of expectations of parents who make great personal sacrifices are all too apparent. Through the British Council and other channels, we are sharing know-how with education experts here.

We are also nurturing those who can benefit most from world class education. Britain’s programme for international students, Chevening — named after the Foreign Secretary’s historical country residence in Kent — celebrates its 30th anniversary with a proud record. Three hundred of the 42,000 strong alumni are Filipino. Over the next two years, a further injection of P2.4 billion will enable us to raise the number of students from all parts of the world in the scheme annually from 500 to 1,500. We are also able to do more in the Philippines because of additional sponsorship from local partners such as Bank of the Philippine Islands, GlaxoSmithKline, First Pacific Leadership Academy and San Miguel Corp. who see the value of what we are trying to achieve.

If you already hold a degree and you have some employment experience, bidding for a post-graduate fully funded course in any one of Britain’s great universities could be one of the most important decisions you make. If you are the fortunate employer or mentor of a potential star, encourage them to expand their potential in the UK.

I am very impressed by the Philippine alumni and the contributions they are making to the country. In the years ahead, I want even more diversity. I want Chevening to inspire Filipinos from Batanes to Sulu, from Samar to Palawan. And I want to see applications for study covering the widest spread of subjects. The Philippines needs talent in traditional roles and expertise in new functions in a more complex and challenging world. Leaders are needed in areas such as climate change, energy, governance, human rights, economics, planning, transport, science, health, education, architecture, justice and many more.

We want to support Bangsamoro in the years ahead through Chevening. Implementation of the peace process is ambitious, brave and difficult. Now more than ever, there is a need to have people in positions of responsibility who are equipped to deliver the peace dividend. We want to identify at least 5 Chevening scholars each year who can make a contribution to the peace process, implementation of the Comprehensive Agreement and development of Bangsamoro. We have already seen Chevening Scholars playing a decisive role on Mindanao. They are an excellent example of how Pinoys with an education from Britain are able to give something back to their country.

The standard we set for Chevening is high. I expect Filipino scholars to impress their cohorts and then make an impressive contribution to the Philippines as they apply knowledge. The return on the capital investment we are making is measured by the success of the scholars themselves and the impact they have when they return. Each year I send off the fresh batch of excited students as they prepare to fly to Britain. I also greet the students as they travel back 12 months or so later, each with their personal story of living and experiencing Great Britain. Make a life changing decision today because the Chevening Scholarships in 2015/16 could be the biggest and best investment decision you ever make.

For more information on Chevening go to www.chevening.org or www.facebook.com/ukinthephilippines.

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(Asif Ahmad is the British Ambassador.)