The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced that refugees and students affected by armed conflict in Myanmar can now pursue higher education at top higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines.
In a statement, CHED said this was made possible through the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“The Philippines has always been a beacon of hope and opportunity, not just for Filipinos, but for those seeking refuge and a fresh start,” said CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera.
Through the USAID Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program (DISP), De Vera affirmed CHED’s commitment to “equitable, quality, and inclusive higher education, aiming to empower students from all backgrounds.”
He added that this initiative stands as a “testament to the power of international collaboration in creating a more inclusive and equitable society.”
CHED announced that students from vulnerable groups in Myanmar are now allowed to study in top Philippine universities, specializing in agriculture, engineering, hospitality management, and education.
These students will attend the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB), Batangas State University (BatSU), Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas (LPU-Batangas), and Saint Louis University Baguio (SLU-Baguio).
Collaborative effort
The DISP is a five-year initiative that offers scholarships to scholars from Myanmar, providing them with regional and local higher education opportunities through various modalities in several Asian countries, including Burma, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Philippines.
CHED said that the participating Philippine HEIs recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Institute of International Education (IIE), the contractor for the DISP funded by USAID, in the presence of USAID-Philippines Director of the Office of Education, Michelle Chen, to launch the program.
“The launch of USAID’s Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program is a testament to the strength of collaboration between the United States and the Philippines,” Chen said. “This program not only supports emerging young leaders from Myanmar but also showcases the power of partnership in uplifting the region’s youth,” she added.
PH universities open doors
CHED said it has worked closely with USAID to streamline the admissions process for students from Myanmar and provide support services to facilitate their transition to studying in Philippine HEIs.
According to data from CHED, BatSU has 11 scholars from Myanmar pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) and Bachelor's degrees in civil engineering, computer engineering, and electrical engineering.
LPU-Batangas, on the other hand, has five scholars pursuing Bachelor's degrees in international travel and tourism management, which are internationally recognized programs at the institution.
CHED noted that UPLB, the country’s top university in agriculture, has four scholars from Myanmar pursuing a Master's degree in natural resource conservation and a graduate diploma in environmental planning.
Meanwhile, SLU-Baguio has 11 scholars enrolled in Bachelor's degrees in Nursing, Secondary Education, and Special Needs Education, as well as a Master's in Inclusive and Language Education.
CHED said the DISP currently has the largest presence in the Philippines, with 31 Burmese scholars studying at various universities in the country.
Another batch of scholars is expected to study in the Philippines next school year through the USAID DISP, CHED explained.
“By advancing the DISP, CHED aims to align with its broader vision of internationalizing Philippine higher education while upholding the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” De Vera said.