Marcos Launches 'EduPhil' Program to Attract Foreign Students

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed an executive order establishing the Education Philippines (EduPhil) program to promote the country as a preferred destination for international students seeking higher education, research and training. Executive Order No. 124, signed on Sept. 8, states that the Philippine higher education system will strengthen academic cooperation, research collaboration, innovation partnerships, and facilitate the entry, stay, and education of foreign students. It establishes an EduPhil Task Force, which shall serve as the principal interagency coordinating body on the promotion, facilitation and development of the program. READ: Marcos sets up EduPhil to attract foreign higher education students The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) will serve as the lead implementing agency of the EduPhil program, with the Department of Foreign Affairs as vice chair. Apart from CHEd, the Bureau of Immigration, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Tourism, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and Professional Regulation Commission will make up the task force, whose responsibilities are as follows: Formulate policies and provide strategic direction for the implementation of the EduPhil Program; Develop and oversee the implementation of a five-year international education promotion strategy; Develop and oversee the implementation of the EduPhil Portal which shall serve as a single-window, interoperable digital platform to facilitate documentation, endorsement tracking, referral, reporting, information sharing and the delivery of government services relating to the education of international students; Recommend legislative, administrative and other measures to streamline visa processing and related government services for international students and other types of support; Recommend policies and initiatives to facilitate the reciprocal recognition of academic degrees, qualifications and credentials between the Philippines and foreign jurisdictions; Constitute sub-committees and working groups, as may be necessary, to support the effective implementation of the order; Submit an annual report to the president, through the CHEd chairperson, on the implementation of the EduPhil Program; and perform such other functions as may be directed by the president. /das The program is expected to enhance the international competitiveness of the Philippine education sector and contribute to the economy.