Mr. Philip Flores, Director for International Academic Linkages and Dr. Elaine Detera, a professor in the AU International Nursing Program, represented Arellano University (AU) at the Australian International Education Conference (AIEC), held at Melbourne, Australia on October 20-25, 2024.
The two were part of the Philippine Higher Education group made up of delegates from 12 universities from all over the Philippines. The group was headed by Dr. Prospero de Vera, Chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) who worked with the assistance of Ms. Bernice Vanguardia, Trade and investment Commissioner, Austrade, Australian Embassy, Manila, during the event.
The objective of the conference is to promote the Philippines as an emerging Transnational Education market, explore possible connections and strengthen the existing partnership between RP and Australian universities through university visits and expert panel presentations on international education, and interactive sessions.
On their first day in Melbourne, the Philippine delegation paid a courtesy call on RP Ambassador to Australia, the Honorable Helen de la Vega and the Honorable Consul General Ms. Maria Lourdes M. Salcedo. They also visited Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorne Campus, Hawthorne, VIC and Chisholm Institute, Dandenong Campus, Dandenong VIC.
In the debriefing held at the Philippine Consulate General on the last day of the mission, the following were proposed:
CHED
- setting a timeline for concrete things to happen for Year 2025 implementation
- funding from CHED for programs for Transnational Education
- alignment of courses and joint degrees between the Philippines
- English proficiency
- CHED support for speedy application and approval of qualified TNE programs submitted by Philippine HEIs
- Scholarships for students and faculty development
AUSTRADE
- Will follow-up on policies and collaboration with the Australian government
- Check and insure serious universities
UNIVERSITY VISITS
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia
- Deakin University, Burwood Campus, Melbourne, Australia
- Philip Flores
