BAGUIO CITY — Britain Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce said Thursday of all the areas of collaborations between the Philippines and United Kingdom (UK), education has the most significant potential in the future.
Ambassador Pruce told students, university officials, and faculty members of Saint Louis University (SLU) the close partnership among academic institutions, both here and in the United Kingdom, could boost the relationship of the two countries.The Ambassador’s visit to the city is part of the “Great British Festival 2018” tour, which the British Embassy recently launched in Manila. The festival is aimed at showcasing the best British culture.
The senior British official said that so far this year, 25 Filipino researchers doing independent researches on the science sector have been sent to the UK.
“We are already seeing innovations and research development in the UK being brought back to the Philippines for commercial purposes, which is great,” Pruce said.
He said the scholarship exchange program between SLU and UK’s Coventry University is an excellent way to give Filipinos international education, reduce the country’s brain drain, and alleviate pressure on the local educational system.
“I hope SLU attracts talents and continues developing researches and innovating,” the British official said.
The Ambassador said the Philippines has an expanding population and young people going into the educational sector would help further boost the economy.
“The Philippines is well placed to emerge and become a hub for transnational education,” Pruce said.
SLU Vice President for Academic Affairs Jose Maria Pangilinan said disaster risk reduction management is the initial course to be covered under the TNE partnership between SLU and Coventry University in the UK.
Pangilinan said the university, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), has considered disaster risk reduction course in the program because of the threat posed by climate change, especially with the Philippines having been categorized as “hazardous”.
Citing the geographical terrain of the Cordillera region, he said the university recognizes the need to respond to the situation by conducting studies and researches on disaster risk reduction management.
Pangilinan said SLU is among the 10 universities in the country with a TNE exchange scholarship program with the UK. (PNA)
