UP-CIFAL Philippines, UPD OIL hold capacity building seminar on int’l scholarship applications

06 JULY 2019, QUEZON CITY, PHILIPPINES—UP-CIFAL Philippines and the University of the Philippines Diliman Office of International Linkages (UPD OIL) held a capacity building seminar on international scholarship applications.

Sixty-five graduates from various public and private universities attended the seminar which aims to raise awareness on available academic opportunities abroad for aspiring Filipino master’s and doctorate students. Dr. Imee Martinez, director of UPD OIL, gave the opening remarks.

Mary Katherine Lao, junior project associate for migration of UP-CIFAL Philippines, explained how academic mobility helps achieve sustainable development goal (SDG) 4: quality education and meets some objectives of the global compact for migration (GCM). Target 4.b of SDG 4 aims to expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries by 2020. GCM Objectives 5 and 18 encourage partnerships and agreements that promote academic exchanges as well as skills development and mobility.

Kiel Suarez, senior project officer for migration, discussed tips on how to secure international graduate scholarships.

Resource persons from the Australia Awards Scholarship and private organisations AUG Study Services Manila and Organisation for the Cooperation, Exchange and Networking Among Students and Alumni (OCEANS) Network presented available study abroad opportunities in Australia, United Kingdom, Europe, and other countries.

Filipino scholars from the National University of Singapore, University of New South Wales (Australia), and University of Debrecen (Hungary) shared their experiences about applying for scholarships and living as a student migrant.

Gábor Lehőcz, vice consul of the Embassy of Hungary in the Philippines, closed the ceremony, stressing that studying abroad is not only about gaining technical skills but also learning about new culture and developing professional and personal relationships.