PH, Russia sign cooperation agreement on education

A historic cooperation agreement on education was signed by the Philippines and Russia after more than a decade of negotiations, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on Friday.

The PH-Russia cooperation on education was forged on the

sidelines of the 31st ASEAN Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City, CHED Commissioner and Spokesman J. Prospero De Vera III, said in a statement.

The cooperation agreement was made official with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Higher Education between the CHED of the Philippines and the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation.

President Rodrigo Duterte and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev witnessed the signing of the agreement by De Vera and Deputy Minister Lydmila Ogorodova.

De Vera said that the higher education agreement “was one of several documents” signed between the Philippines and the Russian Federation after the bilateral meeting between President Duterte and Prime Minister Medvedev at the Coconut Palace last Nov. 13.

De Vera noted that “no further formal exchange of communication has transpired to strengthen ties on higher education between the two countries since 2004 despite the interest of education officials and leading Philippine universities to link with their counterparts in Russia.”

Duterte’s visit to Russia, De Vera said, “cemented good relations between the two states especially in higher education.” He added that since that visit, “communication between Russia and the Philippines on possible higher education cooperation became constant and robust and concluded with the signing of this vital agreement.”

As stated in the MOU, De Vera said that both countries agreed to undertake several initiatives. Among these are promotion of “cooperation in the field of higher education and professional training; and the exchange of personnel and students between recognized universities and institutes of higher education of both countries.

The agreement also aims to encourage direct cooperation and exchange of information onhigher education.

Both countries will also facilitate discussion on a possible agreement on mutual recognition of education, qualifications and academic degrees; exchange of methodological literature, teaching aids, information on cooperation opportunities for research in higher education; and exchange of training programs; and promotion of participation in educational congresses, conferences, seminars, symposiums, training courses and exhibitions.”