Researchers, students, teachers, and academic officials gathered for this year’s European Higher Education Fair (EHEF), aimed at promoting student mobility and academic excellence.
Organized by the delegation of the European Union to the Philippines and EU Member States’ embassies, the EHEF Philippines 2024 was held from November 22 to 23 at Level 3 and 4 of Robinsons Galleria, with online sessions on November 25, where UST also hosted the online session on Arts, Fashion, Tourism and Hospitality. Members of the diplomatic corps graced the event.
The Opening Ceremony on November 22 was attended by the UST Office of Public Affairs, which has been a long-time partner for multiple EU events such as the “Sounds of Celebration: 60 years of EU-PH Relations” choral competition, various legs of the Hemispheres cultural symposia, and the UST Ambassadors Lecture Series in 2022. The OPA Director Ms. Michaella Lagniton and members of the team were present.
In his opening remarks, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines His Excellency Massimo Santoro shared that this year’s EHEF featured 77 higher education institutions, cultural agencies, embassies, from the EU. He remarked that education has always been an important part in the EU-PH cooperation through the years, and such initiatives like the EHEF promote people-to-people connectivity, mutual understanding, and support the green and digital transitions.
With over 30 booths on Level 3 of EDSA Wing, there were onsite presentations from various EU HEI representatives, which are now available to watch on EHEF’s YouTube channel. They covered topics such as higher education systems, student life in the EU, research grants, and scholarships like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and Jean Monnet Programs.
Meanwhile, the online sessions were hosted by the regional hubs in the Philippines, the University of Santo Tomas, Wesleyan University, and Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan, and other partner HEIs including Ateneo de Manila University – European Studies Program, De La Salle University, Enderun College, Holy Cross of Davao College, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Cavite, Mabalacat City College, and World Citi College.
In a virtual session moderated by the UST Office for Public Affairs Assistant Director for Publication Ms. Katherine Patrice B. Sibug, various mobility programs and post-graduate courses were shared to Thomasian participants by Ms. Louise Liwanag from Istituto Marangoni in Italy and Christof Lichtenwagner from the International College of Tourism and Management in Austria.
