malaysiangMANILA: The United States has launched a PHP1.6 billion project that will help boost the Philippines’ higher education through training and curriculum improvements.
The US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) program, launched on Feb. 20, will be implemented through a consortium of US universities and Philippine partners for the next five years.
‘The challenges and opportunities that young people face today in the workplace make college training and education critical for their future success,’ said visiting US Agency for International Development (USAID) Deputy Assistant Administrator for East Asia and the Pacific Sara Borodin during the UPSKILL launch at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.
‘Through this new USAID program, the United States government reaffirms its commitment to working with our Filipino partners in transforming the higher education sector.’
The US Embassy in Manila on Wednesday said the program aimed to bring together US universities, Phil
ippine government agencies, and private sector partners to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in higher education institutions.
Initiatives under the program include faculty and staff training, curriculum improvements, and increasing community outreach and technology transfer, among others.
These efforts, the embassy said, will improve the qualifications and career prospects of Filipino graduates.
The UPSKILL program is implemented by RTI International through Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and Philippine partners such as Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education.
The Commission on Higher Education is optimistic this initiative will provide unique opportunities for Filipino colleges and universities ‘to continuously innovate in response to the aspirations of the Philippines’.
‘Together, we will demonstrate the compelling value of internationally recognized training, cooperative research, an
d lifelong learning modalities being offered by Philippine higher education,’ CHED Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro said.
Officials from CHED, the Second Congressional Commission on Education, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines, as well as representatives from several Philippine universities attended the program launch.
Source: Philippines News Agency
Bangkok: A conference to bolster education collaboration between Vietnam and Thailand was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Association (TVFA) in Bangkok on February 21.
The event drew the participation of representatives from the Thai universities, Thai enterprises who are operating in Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese and Thai students.
In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh laid stress on the necessity to discuss bilateral cooperation across education and human resources training in preparation for the increasingly developing Vietnam – Thailand ties.
He expressed his belief that there will be more Vietnamese students pursuing study in Thailand after they get more information on Thai education establishments, adding both sides should enhance cooperation to increase the number of Vietnamese students in Thailand to 5,000 in the future.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and President of the TVFA Sanan Ang
ubolkul affirmed education has an important role to play in each country’s growth and development.
He said the conference not only promoted academic cooperation but also offered an opportunity for enterprises of both sides to strengthen their bonds.
According to Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura, who engaged in the conference via video, the Thai Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, and many universities present several scholarships to excellent Vietnamese students every year.
Vietnam graduates have numerous chances to get employment at international and Thai enterprises, he added.
Participants at the event shared information on Vietnam’s education market, Thai corporations’ labour demand as well as studying life in Thailand.
Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Director Manager of Bangkok Bank in Vietnam Tharabodee Serng-Adichaiwit told the Vietnam News Agency said as Thai businesses have plans to expand their operations in Vietnam, they are in need of
Vietnamese labourers, especially those who have a deep understanding of the Thai culture.
HR Director at Thai SCG Chemicals Napit Teparak spoke highly of the Vietnamese labourers for their talent and willingness to learn to improve themselves, describing the qualities as the strength of the Vietnamese manpower.
According to data from the Thai Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Vietnam ranks fifth among foreign student communities in Thailand, following China, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency
