Czech Republic schools eyeing Filipino students

Five Czech Republic universities will participate in this year’s European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) in a bid to attract more Filipino students to the European country.

The Czech University of Life Sciences and University of Chemistry and Technology from Czech capital Prague, Masaryk University and Mendel University from Brno, and University of West Bohemia of Pilsen will participate at the 7th EHEF on October 18 at the Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City.

Czech Republic Ambassador Jaroslav Olša Jr. said that “there is a simple reason” why the Czech Republic is positively looking towards the Philippines for a deeper educational cooperation.

“The Czech Republic provides wide range of opportunities for professionals and other skilled workers in their various expanding industries of technology, engineering, medicine, etc.,” he said.

Having the lowest unemployment rate in the European Union at 3,3%, Olša added that “Czech universities strive to engage with Philippine universities and promote stronger bilateral academic cooperation for greater student exchange.”

Together with their colleagues from other European countries, Olša said that Czech representatives will promote up-to-date course offerings of various universities and explain admission processes, with the aim of attracting more Filipino students to further their studies in the Czech Republic.

For college students looking to study abroad, a term or two in the Czech Republic would definitely be worth the choice, “with the astounding landscapes from all directions highlighting the country’s vibrant cultural history.”

As fees in the United States and Western Europe are significantly offering higher tuition fees ranging from 1,000 USD/year for Theology to 17,000 USD/year for Medicine, it became more and more popular for Americans and Brits to study in the Czech Republic.

Currently, foreign students comprise about 18% of the general student population at Czech universities.