The University President of Eastern Visayas State University, Dr. Dennis C. Paz, led the Philippine Delegation, in lieu of CHED Chair J. Prospero E. de Vera III, at the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) 2022, Oct. 16-22, 2022 at Gold Coast, Australia.
One of the thrusts of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is to lead Philippine Higher Education to an international high-level mission to different universities abroad with CHED officials University Presidents, and International Relation Officers (IROs) as participants.
The Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) is an annual conference for international education practitioners, teaching staff, researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders who are interested to learn about industry trends and network with Australian and international colleagues.
The said conference aimed to Strengthen partnership with Australian Universities in the context of the future of internationalization considering the developments from and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a project or partnership framework on our Australian higher education; Establish a framework of cooperation on TNE focusing on quality assurance, regulation and credential pathways in pilot fields of naval architecture, maritime, aeronautics, and engineering; and Implement the CHED- ATN partnership by forming the network of ATN -PTN between Australian Technology Network by connecting with the identified Philippine Universities.
The said visit became productive with the assistance and participation of Dr. de Paz’ co-delegates Ms. Elma Paz, Dr. Buenaventura Macatangay and Ms. Grace Halcon.
The team had a round table panel discussion with Southern Cross University (SCU) Executives and Key International Staff Member to discuss on possible collaboration with Southern Cross University in the fields of Engineering, Hospitality Management and Education.
One of their professors commit to come to the Philippines for research engagement with the participating Philippine universities.
Furthermore, the Philippine delegates had their talk with Mr. Keshav Nepal, CEO, Canberra College of Management and Technology, Ms. Daniella Fernandez, Associate Consultant, International Relations, TC Global and Ms. Catherine Ng,General Manager, CIT International Canberra Institute of Technology.
Moreover, the meeting with Prof. Caryn Nery, Director, TNE Partnerships and Future Students Planning of Victoria University;Prof. Riko Panggabean,Manager, Transnational Education of Western Sydney University and Mr. Craig Dmello, Marketing Executive of Apeiro Institute centered on partnership in Student Mobility, Faculty Exchange Program and On-the-Job Training of Students.
In addition, the discussion with Ms. Sally Way, ATN and Deputy Vice Chancellors of Deakin University, University of Australia and The Hotel School Australia; Dr. John Molon, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), Deakin University; Dr. Gabrielle Rolan,Pro Vice-Chancellor (International), University of South Australia; and Ms. Betty Lui,Senior International Student Recruitment Manager and The Hotel School Australia resulted in having a Memorandum of Understanding on Higher Education and Research of CHED and ATN.
The group had also a meeting with Ms. Rebecca Hall, Commissioner to Southeast Asia, Victorian Government and Ms. Belinda Rimbo; Ms. Jen Bahen, Counsellor, Education and Science, Vietnam that tackled partnership on student exchange program, research collaboration among faculty, THNE Insertion program, and PHEIs and the Victorian Government collaboration.
Furthermore, the team also visited Bond University and discussed with Ms. Catherine Marks, the Vice-President for Engagements the potential collaboration on legal policy and governance and the scholarship grant offered to the faculty members of the Architecture Department of Eastern Visayas State University which will be available in November 2022.
Meanwhile, Dr. de Paz also served as the Guest of Honor and Representative of Philippine Commission on Higher Education in Philippine-Australia Networking Function.
His talk emphasized the Philippine HEIs bid of enhancing global higher education’s increased partnership in internationalization and honing the learning platforms through innovative and novel collaborations.
