EU ambassador: No barrier to Filipinos studying in Europe

MANILA, Philippines - Lack of any skills in speaking any European language or the Philippines’ 10-year basic education curriculum (BEC) that is two years short of the global 12-year BEC standard, is not really a barrier to Filipinos pursuing college, or post-graduate studies in the old and prestigious universities of Europe.

European Union (EU) Ambassador Guy Ledoux told reporters recently at the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) 2012 at the Peninsula Manila said that many universities in Europe are shifting to English as their medium of instruction for several academic programs and courses, that removes the language barrier to a European college and post-graduate education.

“The EU has much to offer when it comes to higher education and scientific research: world-class and state-of-the-art universities and facilities, and leadership in research and innovation and a unique cultural experience in a dynamic, multi-national environment,” Ledoux said.

For her part, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson, said that that the country’s current 10-year BEC, had not been a factor in the low number of Filipinos seeking college and further studies in Europe.

“It was not an issue before,” Licuanan told education reporters. Licuanan said that the major obstacle before was the language barrier.

“The problem has been really the interest of Filipinos to go to Europe because they have to learn a a different language,” Licuanan said.

Italian Ambassador to Manila, Luca Fornari, said in his speech that even in Italy’s historic University of Bologna, said to be the world’s oldest university, academic programs are starting a shift to English as the medium of instruction.

Ton Boon von Ochsee, Dutch Ambassador to Manila, who also attended the fair, said that many universities in the Netherlands were also using English as the medium instruction.

Ledoux said that there were also scholarship programs offered by the EU, primarily the Erasmus Mundus scholarship program, which Filipinos could look into that opens the door wide for them to pursue college and post-graduate studies in European universities.

“Another concrete proof of the EU’s priority on higher education is the Erasmus Mundus Programme which will soon become ‘Erasmus for All,’” Ledoux said.

“The programme provides EU-funded scholarships for third-country nationals participating in Erasmus Masters courses as well as giving scholarships for EU citizeins studying at partner universities throughout the world,” Ledoux said.