Asia, UK higher education, industry leaders to strengthen ties in 2-day policy forum

Asian Higher Education ministry officials will strengthen collaboration with industry leaders from East and Southeast Asian countries and the United Kingdom at the Higher Education Regional Policy Forum on March 7 to 8, 2019 at the Conrad Manila, Pasay City.

This year’s Regional Policy Forum, with the theme “UK-East Asia University Partnerships for Industry Engagement”, is organized by the British Council in the Philippines and cohosted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Close to eighty university engagement managers, researchers, policy-makers, and innovation and entrepreneurship managers across Asia will share and discuss trends in university-industry interaction, partnership models, strategies and platforms for UK and Asian higher education institutions to deepen university-industry collaboration.

CHED Chairman Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, who will deliver the keynote address of the said event, reiterated the importance of expanding collaboration between universities and industries for the internationalization of higher education and competitiveness.

“CHED, in partnership with the British Council, has been helping Filipino students and faculty members through expanded scholarships to joint degree programs and research. This partnership expands to university partnerships for industry engagement–a step that ensures the Duterte administration’s promise of sustainable human capital development,” De Vera said.

British Council in the Philippines Country Director Pilar Aramayo-Prudencio is also optimistic on how Philippines and other East Asian countries can benefit from UK universities expertise in creating opportunities for research, innovation and entrepreneurism through university-industry engagement.

“Universities play a key role in the innovation agenda. The United Kingdom, through its universities, has a solid track record of developing research and innovation with strong industry engagement. By linking British universities with Philippines and East Asian institutions, we aim to share the UK’s expertise and support the countries’ aspirations to give their higher education sector a competitive edge,” Aramayo-Prudencio said.

The forum is a part of a series of interconnected activities to support higher education internationalization through focused discussions, and by showcasing UK and Asian countries’ strengths. Invited experts are expected to discuss the following: 1) collaborative university-industry models; 2) university-industry partnerships in East Asia; 3) relevance of university-Industry engagement to students and graduates; and, 4) UK knowledge exchange models.

Participants will also have a chance to explore the Laguna campus of De La Salle University on the second day and be acquainted with DLSU’s strategy in terms of the university’s partnerships for industry engagement.

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