PH cites reforms in higher education to support EU-ASEAN blue economy

MANILA – To further advance a sustainable blue economy, the Philippines cited key higher education reforms implemented through national and regional efforts in cooperation with member states across Europe and Southeast Asia.

This comes as the regional delegation convenes for the 4th European Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (EU-ASEAN) policy dialogue on Higher Education under the EU-funded Sustainable Connectivity Package - Higher Education (SCOPE-HE), in Quezon City on Tuesday.

In a keynote speech, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis underscored the importance of regional cooperation to harness and capacitate higher and technical education for a sustainable blue economy, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“CHED has been advancing regional cooperation in student mobility, qualifications recognition, digital transformation, research collaboration, among other areas,” she said.

“His Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given us clear direction for our Chairship: to use this opportunity not only to showcase the Philippines, but more importantly, to deliver concrete outcomes that benefit ASEAN and its people at large.”

In particular, Agrupis highlighted ongoing reforms and plans across 2,366 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines to ensure sustainability of the blue economy.

These efforts include “preparing people” to shape the future of the blue economy and “harnessing research and innovation” to ensure its sustainability.

She also mentioned CHED’s HUSAY, or the Higher Education Upskilling and Study for Advancement of Staff and Faculty, which helps build capacity in Philippine HEIs.

For ASEAN and EU cooperation, Agrupis stressed the need for shared pathways across borders, including co-developed curricula, student and faculty mobility, green and digital skills and recognition of qualifications.

For his part, Deputy Head of the European Union Mission to ASEAN Dr. Radomir Jansky said the SCOPE-HE policy dialogue under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy seeks to bring EU member states and ASEAN partners together to build “reliable, sustainable and inclusive” connections and translate real benefits to people.

“This includes supporting the blue economy through investment in maritime sectors, skills, research, innovation, and resilient coastal and ocean-based livelihoods,” he said.

Extreme climate challenges

Jansky, meanwhile, stressed the significance of stronger regional cooperation in dealing with extreme climate conditions, especially now that the Philippines is bracing for the looming effects of the “very strong” El Niño.

“We are connected in a way through catastrophes. You have El Niño now; we have the hottest summer on record in Europe. We had one of the worst floods recently as well. Europe is one of the most exposed regions to climate change,” he said.

“You feel El Niño now; there are also forest fires — this has been a big issue for ASEAN countries. In a way, we are connected through this phenomenon. So, I think it is in our interest to cooperate together.”

For the Philippines, Agrupis mentioned the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI)-mediated technology for fisheries to help cushion the impact of extreme drought.

“We have already deployed capacity building across our HEIs. Number 1 is artificial intelligence-mediated fisheries — so that with this technology, we can at least follow the movement of our marine aquatic resources in times of El Niño,” she said.

Higher Education policy for El Niño preparations has also been issued to guide over 2,300 HEIs in mitigating its effects and maintaining academic sustainability nationwide.