Take a step closer to your dreams of studying abroad at this year’s European Higher Education Fair. That's happening from September 30 to October 1 at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City.
And to tell us more is the European Union Delegation to the Philippines Chargé d'affaires Ad Interim Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz.
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And to tell us more is the European Union Delegation to the Philippines Chargé d'affaires Ad Interim Ana Isabel Sánchez Ruiz.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Take a step closer to your dreams of studying abroad at this year's European Higher Education Fair
00:06 that's happening from September 30 to October 1 at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City.
00:11 And to tell us more, joining us this morning is the European Union Delegation to the Philippines,
00:15 Charge d'Affaires, at Interim, Ana Isabel Sanchez-Ruiz. Good morning, Ana.
00:20 Good morning, Magandang Umaga.
00:22 Magandang Umaga. It's great to see you in the flesh.
00:24 Last time I think we spoke was purely online.
00:27 Now, you've been doing this for years, but let's backtrack a little.
00:31 Why did the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the EU Member States' Embassies decide to hold an annual EHEF Fair here?
00:39 Yes, this is something we are holding since 2008,
00:42 and the purpose was to make the option of studying in Europe known by the Filipino students.
00:49 Right. And I assume it's just gotten bigger, better, more and more institutions, I'm sure,
00:55 have gotten involved and more and more people have become more aware of the opportunities to study abroad.
01:00 So it has gotten bigger and broader.
01:02 How much bigger has it grown since its inception and over the years that you've run the EHEF?
01:11 Well, now, at this edition, we have 85 participating institutions,
01:18 out of which 70 are universities and colleges from Europe.
01:25 Of course, the COVID was a bit of a…
01:28 I know, a bit of a hiccup, a bit of a hurdle.
01:30 But we turned into the hybrid format and like that we have reached out to more people,
01:35 both in Europe and here in the Philippines.
01:37 Right. I think that's the one silver lining from the way that we conducted our affairs and business at that point.
01:44 Online did open a few new avenues.
01:46 What did you find was the happy takeaway from the online experience?
01:52 Is that going to be something that remains and it's going to be an alternative way to actually network
01:56 and connect with respective students and universities?
01:59 I think we will keep this format because we have twice as many institutions participating
02:05 because half of them will be participating online.
02:09 And at the same time, it makes the fair accessible to students all over the Philippines,
02:14 not only in the Metro Manila area, which is important.
02:17 Right. What areas in Europe have you seen an uptick of interest in participating in the EHEF program?
02:25 Well, Filipinos are increasingly interested in going to the European Union to study.
02:33 Last year, we had 2,000 participants on-site and 6,000 online.
02:39 As for the number of students, it fluctuates and of course, COVID was a big problem because people couldn't move.
02:47 So we are trying to restart that motion and this idea that it's not only possible to go to study outside of the Philippines.
02:58 Right. Is there any particular area in Europe where you're seeing an increasing interest?
03:03 Is Spain an area that's growing in interest?
03:08 It's a bit everywhere. The figures, they are still very modest, maybe a few thousands per year.
03:16 We have around 60 Filipino students per year that get Erasmus scholarship.
03:23 So I would say it's still quite steady, but little by little, we hope to make it more popular.
03:29 More areas to definitely, more areas for growth.
03:32 After the pandemic, there was this term called "revenge travel." Do you think we'll see revenge study at this point?
03:41 I think so. I think so. Although, of course, people get used to study from home, even online.
03:48 But our purpose is to make students in the Philippines think about this possibility.
03:54 Right.
03:55 Many may think it's too expensive or too difficult.
03:58 Yes. Well, that's one of the things that we sort of want to clear up at the EHEF.
04:05 What exactly happens when you come and attend? What are you in for? What should you prepare?
04:10 How should you prepare for coming out to the EHEF?
04:13 Well, at the fair, students can interact with universities, so they will get full information on their programs, on their scholarships opportunities.
04:23 They can also interact with embassy personnel, so they will get more information on visas, on how it is to live in Poland, Germany, France, wherever.
04:34 And then they will get information also on the grantships, the scholarships, because there are many different programs, and European, and national.
04:43 Right. Well, you know, this is something that students, prospective students, can actually research on their own.
04:48 Surely there is a benefit to attending the EHEF. I mean, like you said, it's all going to be in one place,
04:54 and you'll never have the same opportunities to look up and talk directly to these universities.
04:59 It's a different proposition altogether for prospective students.
05:03 Yes. We have this networking element and also this interaction element that is important,
05:09 and we also have our goodwill ambassadors that are Filipinos who have studied in Europe and who can share their experiences, good tips.
05:17 So I think it's a totally different experience than just searching online.
05:21 Searching online. Are we talking about new coming into college students, postgraduate studies?
05:29 What area of study is included in the FAIR, and what would you say are the areas of most interest to prospective students?
05:38 What are people looking for, and what areas does Europe specialize in?
05:43 Well, we are targeting mostly undergraduate students who have to start graduate studies here or in Europe.
05:53 As for the areas, last year we were really targeting different areas, like urbanism or computer science or hospitality studies, or many, many different.
06:06 We saw that that would have been limiting to students because many could have other interests altogether.
06:15 So this year we are focusing more on bringing the universities here and letting the universities explain all their offers
06:23 so that people can really find something that touches their motivation and interest.
06:28 Right. So it really is a buffet or a smorgasbord of educational options.
06:33 Let's go ahead and go through the details again, Anna. Let's invite everyone. How can they register and take part?
06:38 Let's go over the dates and the locations.
06:40 Yeah. So please join us at the European Higher Education FAIR.
06:45 This will take place at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandalusian on the 29th.
06:51 Well, we will kick off on the 29th of September, but 30th of September, 1st of October on-site, and 2nd of October online.
06:59 So you can find there all the information you need to consider going to Europe to study, to continue your university studies.
07:08 Sounds good to me. Thank you so much, Anna, for joining us this morning.
07:10 Thank you so much.