EU backs internationalization of Philippines higher education institutions

MANILA, Philippines — The European Union (EU) has allocated one million euros (around P57 million) to strengthen the internationalization efforts of higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines.

A consortium of leading academic institutions in the country was created as part of the Internationalization of Higher Education in the Philippines Network or ANTENA Project funded by the Erasmus+ Program of the EU.

Lily Freida Milla, deputy executive director and officer-in-charge of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), said the project aims to enhance academic quality and research of universities in the Philippines through the development of internationalization capacities.

Included in the consortium are the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Benguet State University, Central Luzon State University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Saint Louis University, University of San Carlos and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan.

Other partners include CHED, the European Foundation for Management Development, the Universidad de Alicante in Spain and the Université de Montpellier in France.

The project is also meant to strengthen internationalization and increase the number of internationalization-related activities of Philippine HEIs.

Specific objectives include consolidation of international structures of various HEIs, building of human capacities through training activities, supporting government initiatives on improving quality and reputation of Philippine HEIs, and enhancing the network of local and international institutions.

Addressing misconceptions about the internationalization, Milla said the concept is not about agreements with foreign universities, number of programs taught in English, or the number of foreign students or foreign travels of educators.

Rather, she said it is about enhancing the quality of education in general and upholding the country’s reputation as a center of higher education in identified niches.