ISTANBUL 29 February 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara, led by Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr., joined the Philippine delegation to the Eurasia Higher Education Fair (EURIE 2024) from 27 to 29 February 2024 at the Istanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Convention & Exhibition Center. The Philippine delegation was headed by Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III and composed of officials from CHED, Philippine state universities, and private educational institutions.

Photo: CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera (6-R), Ambassador-designate Henry S. Bensurto, Jr. (center), and members of the Philippine delegation to EURIE 2024 posing in front of the Philippine booth. (Photo courtesy of Istanbul PCG)

“The Philippines has been engaging in aggressive internationalization since 2016,” said CHED Chairperson De Vera during his remarks at the opening ceremony of EURIE 2024. He discussed the changing landscape of Philippine higher education with the passing of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and increasing number of Philippine universities in the Times Higher Education (THE) University Rankings. “We are living in an interconnected world. It is essential to engage other countries and universities to promote our culture and share knowledge,” he continued.

Photo: CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera giving his remarks at the opening ceremony of EURIE 2024 (Embassy photo)

On the sidelines of EURIE 2024, CHED Chairperson De Vera met with his Turkish counterpart, President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar to discuss expanding education cooperation between the Philippines and Türkiye. Ambassador-designate Bensurto and Consul General Shirlene C. Mananquil from the Philippine Consulate General in Istanbul also joined the bilateral meeting.

Photo: Bilateral meeting between CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera (3-L) and YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar (3-R) at the sidelines of EURIE 2024 (Embassy photo)

Presidents and officials from four (4) State Universities, namely: Caraga State University (CarSU), Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISATU), Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), and Mindanao State University at Naawan (MSU-Naawan), and two (2) private educational institutions, namely: Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation (VMFU) and University of Luzon (UL) joined the Philippine delegation to EURIE.

Photo: CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera (5-L), YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar (center) with Turkish and Philippine education officials and members of the academe (Embassy photo)

In 2018, CHED and YÖK signed a Protocol for Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education in Manila. Under the framework of the signed Protocol, the Philippines initiated the project entitled, “Development of Academic and Exchange Programs among the Universities in the Philippines and Türkiye” where seven (7) Philippine universities signed memoranda of understanding with six (6) counterpart Turkish universities to exchange faculty and students, engage in joint research projects, and exchange scientific information. END.