Hybrid European Higher Education Fair 2022 gathers youth participants for a more inclusive future

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A total of 1,900 students, academicians, researchers, and faculty attended the recent Hybrid European Higher Education Fair on-site in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong.

EHEF 2022 also recorded an average of more than 6,000 online participants navigating the EHEF website at www.ehefphilippines.com or the EHEF Facebook platform.

In his opening speech, H.E. Luc Véron, European Union Ambassador to the Philippines, said “As the European Union celebrates the 2022 International Year of the Youth, we focus on enabling youth to innovate and to help build a better future — greener, more inclusive, and digital.”

“We need to take advantage of technological advancements, harnessing valuable digital assets to develop and implement policies and programs that will broaden access and ensure the quality of Philippine higher education benefitting the wider Filipino community,” said Commissioner Ronald Adamat of the Commission on Higher Education.

From left to right (clockwise): Mr. Maroš Guoth, Trade Counsellor, Embassy of the Czech Republic; H.E. William Carlos, Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland; H.E. Titanilla Toth, Ambassador, Embassy of Hungary; Ms. Mia Abela, Trade Attaché, Embassy of Belgium; H.E. Michel Parys, Ambassador, Embassy of Belgium; H.E. Luc Véron, Ambassador, European Union to the Philippines; H.E. Pykkho Juha, Ambassador, Embassy of Finland; Commissioner Ronald Adamat from the Commission on Higher Education; Ms. Carmela Barcia, Charge d’affaires, Embassy of Spain; Ms. Anna Krzak-Danel, Counselor-Minister, Head of Section, Embassy of Poland; H.E. Jana Sediva, Ambassador, Embassy of the Czech Republic; Mr. Eugeniu Rotaru, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Italy; Mr. Kai Tomzig, Head of Cultural Affairs, Embassy of Germany; Mr. Robert van der Hum, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands; Ms. Joy Polloso, Executive Vice-President for Retail and Commercial at Shang Properties; Ms. Aileen Leoncio, Commercial Section, Advantage Austria, Embassy of Austria; Madel Diolandia, Press and Cultural Affairs Officer, Austrian Embassy; Ms. Mary Rose Wood, Assistant to the Ambassador, Embassy of Romania; Ms. Shane Marie Demalata, Academic Officer and Executive Assistant, Embassy of Denmark

The 2022 European Higher Education Fair was attended by 1,900 participants onsite at the Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium in Mandaluyong City.

The European Higher Education Fair connected students to university representatives from 14 participating EU member states, and offered information on scholarship programmes and grants available.

Walk-in registrants interested in higher education programmes EU took the opportunity to interact with university representatives at the 2022 European Higher Education Fair at the Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium.

The European Higher Education Fair was opened by Ambassador Véron, Commissioner Adamat, and Ms
Joy Polloso, Executive Vice-President for Retail and Commercial, Shang Properties. They were joined by Ambassadors Jana Sediva (Czech Republic), Titanilla Toth (Hungary), Pykkho Juha (Finland), Ambassador Michel Parys (Belgium), Ioannis Pediotis (Greece), diplomats and officers of the Embassies of Italy, Sweden, Royal Netherlands, Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Denmark, and Romania.

Through the partnership between the EU Delegation to the Philippines and the Commission on Higher Education, the EHEF has become the premier platform to link higher education institutions, cultural groups, and other EU academic programs with those aspiring to study in the EU.

The event was joined by more than a hundred European higher education institutions and education services from EU Member States Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Finland, and Sweden.

This year marked the first hybrid European Higher Education Fair where universities from the European Union were also able to connect to students virtually through structured webinars.

Aside from structured webinars, participants were able to learn more about the specific programmes, scholarship opportunities, and education system through the country presentations from the participating EU member states representatives.

The Virtual European Higher Education Fair 2022 was organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines together with the EU Member States’ Embassies, education services, and Cultural Institutes and in collaboration with the Commission on Higher Education.

This year’s Philippines university partners included regional university hubs Wesleyan University and the University of Cordilleras (Luzon), Silliman University (Visayas), and other top-notch Philippine universities such as Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, Holy Cross of Davao College, Mabalacat City Colleges, Rizal Technological University, Trinity University of Asia, University of Sto Tomas, and Visayas State University. Media partners were: Adobo Magazine, BusinessWorld SparkUp, CNN Philippines, Gadgets Magazine, iOrbit News, Philippine Daily Inquirer – INQPOP!, SEA Wave, The Philippine Business and News, and WheninManila.com.