MANILA, Philippines - The European Union (EU) is seeing a growing interest among Filipinos to pursue college or post-graduate studies in European universities.
Hence, the EU Delegation to the Philippines is again holding a European Higher Education Fair this coming Oct. 15 at the Peninsula Manila in Makati City where a total of 31 higher learning institutions will give an exhibit, open from 10 a.m. up to 8 p.m., and admission is free for the general public.
Julian Vassallo, political counsellor of the EU Delegation to the Philippines, said that this early, they are already planning a bigger EHEF next year, 2014, with a two-leg fair - one in Makati City and another one to be held in the Visayas region, especially if the Oct. 15 proves to be another resounding success as last year.
“From last year, we can see that there is big interest. We had 2,000 people coming in one day,†Vasallo told reporters yesterday in the launch of the EHEF Philippines 2013 at the Oakwood Premier Joy-Nostalg Center Manila in the Ortigas business district in Pasig City.
The high turnout of people, he said, indicated strong interest.
Vasallo said that going to the fair, interested Filipinos also get a pleasant surprise when discovering that the cost of tuition was also reasonable, even affordable, at 200 to 2,000 Euros per year, especially in France and Germany.
Three countries are first time participants at the EHEF this 2013 — the Czech Republic, Hungary and Ireland. The theme this year is Academic Excellence and Mobility.
All in all, the 31 institutions are from 10 participating EU-member-states.
In last year’s EHEF, there were eight participant EU member-states, and 22 European higher education institutions.
EU Ambassador to the Philippines Guy Ledoux said that the main aim of the EHEF is to give Filipino students the opportunity to talk directly with representatives of universities and higher education establishments from across Europe about the vast array of study opportunities available in every subject and discipline.