The ninth installment of the UST Ambassadors Lecture Series (ALS) was held on November 26, 2024 at the Dr. Robert Sy Grand Ballroom. Austrian Ambassador Johann Brieger delivered the lecture for this year’s ALS. The event was live streamed via Facebook.
A flagship project of the UST Office of Public Affairs (OPA), with this year’s partnership with the Embassy of Austria in Manila, the academic discourse was held in celebration of the 78th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Austria. With the lecture titled, “Diplomatic Encounters: Fostering Connections between Austria, the Philippines, and the World,” Ambassador Brieger elaborated on various bilateral engagements and future plans between the two nations, as well as his active life as a diplomat.
The ambassador began with Austria’s rich international cultural and economic contributions, noting various historical and modern icons and achievements. He also made mention of the cordial relations between the Philippines and Austria, even before its official diplomatic partnership.
In light of present engagements, Ambassador Brieger emphasized the vital role of culture and arts in building international relations, while highlighting their contributions in the Philippines towards mental health, anti-human trafficking, women empowerment and gender equality, child protection, and education. Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Tarlac Governor Susan Yap and the State Councilor of Upper Austria Dr. Wolfgang Hattmansdorfer during the first OFW Serbisyo Caravan in the province to promote mutual cooperation for engagements in education, arts, culture, health, and other sectors.
“This year, we also opened – [at the] end of September – a Migrant Worker Office in Vienna,” the ambassador stated, expressing the country’s continuous support for Filipino workers in Austria.
Bilateral trade relations were also mentioned, including but not limited to the import of electronic equipment and minerals, with emphasis on the goal to improve long-term trading schemes between both countries because “the Philippines has a dynamic economy,” and, “Europe lacks representation in Asia.” He also noted opportunities for further cooperation in sectors such as major infrastructure, water supply and wastewater disposal, energy, healthcare, and agriculture. Renewable energy sources such as hydropower, solar, and wind were also mentioned as prospective areas for improvement with proper coordination.
During the open forum, Ambassador Brieger generously answered several queries regarding Austrian and Philippine relations. A question about study opportunities opened the conversation about the recently-concluded European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) where different universities within EU member countries offered student exchange opportunities to students in the Philippines. A question regarding the state of energy production in the Philippines compared to Austria prompted His Excellency to discuss the probability of assisting the Philippines in producing cleaner energy due to the abundance of renewable energy sources in the country. Other inquiries were also addressed by the Ambassador during the forum moderated by the OPA senior writer Christie Elise Cruz.
In the introduction to the speaker, OPA Director Michaella O. Lagniton noted the ambassador’s career experiences; Ambassador Brieger has over 30 years of experience as a foreign diplomat, with his current position as Ambassador of Austria to the Philippines; he has previously worked as Ambassador of Austria to the Republic of Kosovo from 2011 to 2015, and the Republic of South Africa from 2018 to 2022. His Excellency is also a recipient of the French Order of Merit with the rank of Chevalier. Before he was a diplomat, he served administrative positions in the private sector.
After the ALS, Ambassador Brieger alongside his wife, Madame Roswitha Brieger, toured the campus under the care of Lagniton. His museum tour was then led by the UST Museum Assistant Director Ar. John Carlo Sayco, while the tour of the Library was given by the Assistant Head for Digitization Symon Lagao and Head Book Restorer Ginalyn Santiago.
The UST Ambassador Lecture Series is a project initiated by the UST Office of Public Affairs where foreign ambassadors are given a platform for intellectual exchange with students and other interested parties within the University. The ALS, according to the UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Louie R. Coronel, O.P., EHL, honors the ties between the two nations, and celebrates the importance of dialogue in an interconnected world.
