COMMISSION on Higher Education chairperson Prospero De Vera III called on international education leaders to act on the prevailing global issues that limit the access of marginalized groups to quality higher education.

“I support the manifestations of the speakers before me to discuss AI and digital technology at this conference. But, I also ask all of you that we should not forget the impact of war and conflict on our higher education institutions, the digital divide, and the global and regional disparities that limit the access of marginalized groups to higher education,” De Vera said during his opening message at the 9th annual EURASIA Higher Education Summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

The 2024 EURIE gathered 2,000 higher education professionals across the Eurasia region and the world to discuss challenges facing higher education and explore new trends and practices to facilitate internationalization.

De Vera was among the distinguished higher education leaders who were featured to speak at the opening of this year’s EURIE sharing his campaign to ensure inclusivity and equity in higher education and the Philippine government’s plan to push for internationalization.

“We have been aggressively pushing for internationalization both as a strategy to improve quality and to produce globally competitive graduates. The Philippines welcomes this opportunity through the EURIE to explore opportunities in line with the instructions of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. to continuously improve higher education,” De Vera added.

Presidents of Mariano Marcos State University, Mindanao State University – Naawan, Iloilo Science and Technological University, and Caraga State University, as well as representatives of University of Luzon and Virgen Milagrosa University Foundation joined De Vera at the summit.

“CHED and PHEIs’ presence here today in the 2024 EURIE Summit is the manifestation of our deep interest in further strengthening our close bilateral relationship with Turkey in promoting the internationalization of higher education institutions, and our commitment to link with other universities in the rest of the world,” De Vera said.

On the sidelines of EURIE, the Philippine delegation in Turkey attended partnership meetings to explore potential cooperation with Turkish higher education and other related agencies in Turkey