Open economies, open minds

I AM DELIGHTED to have been appointed as our Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to the Philippines not long before the Philippines takes up ASEAN’s rotating chairmanship in the year of its 50th anniversary. This is a time of greater political interaction and strong economic development in Southeast Asia. Growth averages nearly 5% p. a., combined GDP approaches $2.5 trillion and the total market is roughly 600 million relatively young consumers. For those of us who have lived many years in Southeast Asia, this is no surprise — and now the dynamic momentum of the region is more widely recognized across the world.

The Philippines now has an opportunity to set the ASEAN agenda to build on past success to encourage wider trade and investment, not just between ASEAN members but globally.

As someone who once ran a business in the Philippines, I know what can be achieved here by entrepreneurs working together. It’s, therefore, timely to lead one of the largest UK business delegations ever to visit the Philippines. Our 30-member delegation attending the Business Opportunities Fair run by the Asian Development Bank is composed of organizations involved in education, infrastructure, consultancy, energy, and financial & professional services. More than half of the group are education and training institutions — a clear indication of the strength and wealth of offerings that UK universities and training providers are keen to share with Asian countries, including the Philippines. Many of the delegates will travel on to explore opportunities in Indonesia, Vietnam, and Burma.

UK universities have much to offer in terms of curriculum development, provision of international qualifications, and capacity building for teachers. The UK is home to four of the world’s top ten universities. We have more tripleaccredited business schools than any other country, and the most popular K-12 curriculum in the world. Students need not travel to the UK to gain world class education. Each year, over 580,000 students gain a qualification from British, colleges, and universities operating outside the UK.

Filipino families will always aspire to the best education for their children — and that is where Britain can help. I would love to see more of our great higher educational institutions operating in the Philippines, as they do in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Liberalization of education can allow foreign providers to provide international quality degrees while keeping costs affordable. There are other benefits like innovation and greater efficiency. Incumbent schools should have a wider pool of teaching talent and services to offer, new entrants will find it easier to set up and most importantly, students have a broader and better choice.

Local academics employed by international universities could have greater access to leading research, acquiring the skills & training to deliver world class learning. Scholarships offered by foreign universities would enable bright but poor students the chance to reach their potential. Options would include studying at a UK overseas campus closer to home or at a local institution accredited to grant UK degrees. And some students might obtain vocational qualifications through distance learning, as well as local partner institutions.

During my visit, I look forward to seeing more of the Philippines’ political, business, and academic leaders to discuss how we can work more closely together. I’ve seen firsthand the power of education to mold minds and shape hearts and I believe that open education — including the particularly strong brand of independent thinking associated with British education — will be the best way to open young minds in the Philippines and all across Southeast Asia.

In the year that the Philippines takes over the leadership of ASEAN, I hope the commitment of our delegation members and the renowned Filipino passion for great education will forge new partnerships.

Mr. Graham’s visit to the Philippines, set for March 22 to 24, aims to enhance greater openness in business opportunities between London and Manila.