PRESS RELEASE
Philippine Embassy, Canberra
1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*
01 July 2025, Perth - Philippine Ambassador to Australia, H.E. Antonio Morales, visited the University of Western Australia (UWA) on 01 July 2025 to discuss expanding academic and research partnerships and opportunities for Filipino students.
Ms. Onna Evdokimoff, Global Engagement Manager at UWA, provided an overview of the university’s engagement with the Philippines and its ongoing efforts to internationalize its education and research programs. There are currently around 150 Filipino students are enrolled at UWA, including 87 in the Master’s in Biomedical Science, 3 Juris Doctor students, and 60 students in the Global MBA program, which is a joint initiative with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) that allows students to split their studies between the two institutions. The UWA also has a Memorandum of Understanding with UP Mindanao for cooperation in agriculture and environmental studies.
Research collaboration between UWA and Philippine institutions continues to strengthen, with six joint research projects in areas such as crop science, soil science, subsea geomechanics, and education development, including a significant partnership with DOST-PCAARRD to establish the Agri-Aqua Value Chain Laboratory.
Between 2020 and 2025, UWA produced 25 peer-reviewed co-publications with partners such as UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Silliman University, and the Asian Development Bank. UWA expressed a strong interest in building more in-country partnerships with the Philippines.
Ambassador Morales acknowledged the importance of UWA’s academic strengths, particularly in agriculture and ocean sciences, given the Philippines’ priorities in agricultural modernization and maritime development.
The UWA, a member of the prestigious Group of Eight (Go8), is ranked 1st in Australia and 5th globally in marine/ocean engineering, and 1st in Australia and 15th globally in agricultural sciences. It also offers the world’s first quantum computing course integrating artificial intelligence and information technology.
Australia is a top destination for Filipino students, with nearly 3,900 Filipinos enrolled in Western Australia in 2024, making them the fifth-largest international student cohort in the state. - END