British Council, the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities, continues to strengthen its presence in the Philippines with transformative initiatives in the education sector led by Country Director Lotus Postrado alongside Head of Education, Pierre Pecson. Through partnerships between the UK and the Philippines, the organisation’s transnational education program has steadily grown in the country and has become an avenue for students and learners to become experts in niche areas such as sustainable food systems, design engineering, energy security, and digital innovation, among others.
Transnational Education in the Philippines: Giving Local Access to International Degrees
Transnational education is when students and professionals seeking higher education are given the opportunity to take international degree programs without the need to stay full-time abroad. This opens the doors for learners to study, adapt, and equip themselves with knowledge from the higher education space in the comfort of their home country and in consideration of the digital era that the world is in; making it easier for them to pursue.
Currently, transnational education is part of the Access and Competitiveness through Internationalization of Higher Education (ACT-IHE), a collaboration between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which aims to widen the access of learners to quality higher education and to empower Filipino universities.
“British Council’s transnational education program has enabled Philippine institutions to develop and implement these programs in their respective universities, empowering them to nurture academic excellence and build linkages between the Philippines and the United Kingdom,” remarked Postrado.
In line with this goal, British Council in the Philippines seeks to upgrade the quality of institutions through their support, from developing programs unavailable in the country to providing opportunities to create Filipino experts in specific domains.
“With the passing of Republic Act 11448 (An Act Expanding Access to Educational Services Through the Establishment and Administration of Transnational Higher Education), the Philippines is taking its first step towards internationalisation. While it is signaling the country’s openness to collaborate with international universities, there is still work to do to make the policy environment of the Philippines more conducive to transnational education partnerships. “As a partner for EDCOM II where we embrace internationalisation as a cornerstone for Higher Education, we aspire for this collaboration to pave the way for enhanced opportunities. We look forward to facilitating university faculty exchanges and fostering program delivery within the country,” said Postrado.
CHED Celebrates Transnational Higher Education with British Council
Just recently, CHED hosted the Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Forum held at the Senate of the Philippines. This forum brought together various partners in internationalization, including Higher Education Institutions such as University of the Philippines Los Baños and Miriam College, along with collaborators such as British Council and ASEAN.
Being part of the 4th National Higher Education Day celebrations, the forum aimed to update its partners of the progress on internationalisation and transnational education that the country has had over the years. CHED also unveiled a special exhibit for TNHE, showcasing the different facets of internationalisation in the Philippines, presenting various research on higher education including the ones conducted by the British Council which focused on the opportunities and challenges of transnational education in the country, as well as stories from successful alumni who have graduated under transnational education programmes.
“As we commemorate the 4th Higher Education Day, we set forth on an ambitious journey into the future of Philippine higher education. At the heart of this endeavour is the pivotal role of transnational higher education, which stands as a cornerstone for our advancement. British Council is a steadfast partner in this endeavour and a firm believer of Filipino talent. Our journey together through the numerous initiatives (citing JDNP, TNE scholarships, capacity building, immersion sessions for IAS, the TNE toolkit, QA) is an exemplar of a balanced, reciprocal and transformative partnership.
Together with the British Council and other international partners CHED, we were able to propel internationalisation of PH higher education efforts as a strong driving force to fostering a dynamic global community. Our ultimate aim is to cultivate global citizens who are not only well-equipped to thrive in an interconnected world but are also committed to sustainable development. Through these collective efforts, we envision a future where Philippine higher education not only excels on the global stage but also contributes profoundly to the betterment of our world” said Atty. Lily Milla, Director of International Foreign Affairs at CHED.
The Future of Transnational Education in the Philippines
As the push for Transnational Education continues, one of the main goals this year is the Transnational Higher Education Law which is a CHED-led initiative that aims to develop a national Transnational Education strategy. This formalizes the process of establishing networks and alliances with universities and higher education institutions abroad. Being a long-time partner of CHED, British Council is now working with them on this undertaking, providing resources through the UK’s expertise in Transnational Education.
“The British Council has supported CHED in creating a roadmap to standardize this strategy development, and we have also developed a Transnational Education toolkit together with Advance HE (UK), which serves as a practical guide for local and foreign universities to efficiently develop Transnational Education programs in the country. We are looking forward to launching this kit as we collaborate further in strengthening Filipino universities through Transnational Education,” Postrado stated.
Moving forward, British Council remains dedicated to fostering collaboration, innovation, and excellence in higher education for the benefit of learners and institutions alike. Through formalizing partnerships with international higher education institutions, British Council paves the way for Filipino learners to excel in specialized areas and enhance the overall quality of Philippine institutions through their transformative initiatives in Transnational Education.
