PRESS RELEASE

Philippine Embassy, Canberra

1 Moonah Place, Yarralumla, ACT 2600
www.philembassy.org.au    *Tel. No. 02-6273-2535*

14 November 2024, MELBOURNE – Philippine Ambassador to Australia Ma. Hellen De La Vega and Consul General Ma. Lourdes Salcedo joined the Philippine Higher Education Mission to Australia led by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III on 21-25 October 2024 to strengthen existing and establish new partnerships with leading Australian universities on transnational education.

The Mission implements the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to boost the internationalization of Philippine higher education institutions and explored opportunities for collaboration in research and development, student mobility and exchanges, and capacity building and twinning or dual degree arrangements.

Throughout the five-day mission, the delegation engaged industry leaders, Australian university representatives and government officials including State Minister for Skills and TAFE and Regional Development Hon. Gayle Tierney, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Simon Puckett and officials from the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) headed by CEO Dr. Mary Russell.

Chairman De Vera and Ambassador De La Vega keynote a forum organized by the Australia Philippines Business Council on 22 October 2024 on expanding partnerships in education and skills.

In her remarks, Ambassador De La Vega emphasized the significant growth of Filipino international students in Australia and efforts to elevate education and skills, and STEM cooperation under Strategic Partnership of the Philippines and Australia. The Ambassador underscored the importance of imbuing “glocal” education to prepare students to thrive in both local and international contexts.

Chairman De Vera highlighted that the Philippines aims to boost transnational education to ensure pathways for both Filipino and Australian students to access and acquire education in the Philippines and Australia to enhance skills in specialized areas and competitiveness in the global field. He emphasized that the priority areas in higher education are maritime, medicine and allied health, aviation, animation and game development, information technology, STEM and agriculture.

The visit led by CHED reciprocates Australia’s first Southeast Asia Business Exchange to Manila in May 2025 on transnational education and demonstrates the strong resolve of the Philippines to harness opportunities on education cooperation.- END