The EU and the Philippines: Investing in the next generation

Since arriving in the Philippines two years ago, I have had the opportunity to lecture at universities in different parts of the country and meet many Filipino students. They often ask how they can also enjoy study opportunities abroad. I am encouraged by that interest, and I wish for more young Filipinos to feel that studying in Europe can be within their reach.

Further study is a serious commitment. It takes time and money, and studying abroad may mean leaving work and family for a while. Clear information about programs, scholarships and life in Europe can heœlp students weigh their options and decide whether this is the right next step for them. These decisions come as technology changes the way we work and employers look for new skills. Further study can help young people prepare for the careers they hope to pursue.

The EU supports these ambitions through Erasmus+, its program for education, training, youth and sport. It offers opportunities to study abroad and develop new skills. The 2021-2027 program prioritizes social inclusion, the green and digital transitions and young people’s participation in democratic life. These priorities are closely aligned with many of the Philippines’ own development goals, including resilience, sustainability, innovation and inclusive growth.

Between 2021 and 2025, 364 Filipinos were awarded Erasmus Mundus scholarships for joint master’s programs. Studying at universities in different countries allows students to gain specialist knowledge while learning and working alongside people from different backgrounds.

This year’s Filipino Erasmus Mundus participants are pursuing studies in analytical chemistry, geoinformation and Earth observation, smart cities and communities and public health. Other fields include communications engineering and data science, the circular economy, artificial intelligence, flood risk management and sustainable agriculture.

These skills can help address practical needs in the Philippines. Analytical chemistry, for example, is used in food safety and water quality testing, while satellite data can help identify environmental risks. Expertise in urban planning and public health can improve local services. Those studying the circular economy can help businesses use materials more efficiently and reduce waste. Skills in artificial intelligence, engineering and digital systems can strengthen disaster response and help local industries compete.

Filipinos who studied in Europe are already putting their expertise to work. A professor and dean at Visayas State University now applies doctoral training in forest sciences and forest ecology from Germany’s University of Göttingen to research and teaching. Her work supports forest restoration and conservation, while her teaching passes that knowledge on to future foresters. An engineer completed an Erasmus Mundus master’s in transition, innovation and sustainability in 2025. His experience in the Philippines includes managing water infrastructure projects and leading projects to build a bamboo playground and renovate a school using bamboo. In health care, a doctor completed his Erasmus Mundus master’s in emergency and critical care nursing in 2014 and now teaches at Hunter College in New York. His work spans patient care, research on health equity and the training of nurses. His career shows how Filipino graduates can share their knowledge and contribute through work also across borders.

Our new EU-Philippines Enhanced Partnership builds on existing education cooperation and strengthens our commitment to student and staff exchanges and closer university ties. Filipino students and academics bring knowledge and experience that enrich European classrooms and research. Their European peers, in turn, have much to learn from Philippine institutions and communities.

Alongside the full joint master’s degrees offered through Erasmus Mundus, Erasmus+ supports temporary student and staff exchanges between universities. Students can study abroad as part of their existing degree, while staff can teach or undertake training. Under projects selected between 2022 and 2025, 370 such exchanges were planned from the Philippines to EU member-states and associated countries and 176 in the other direction. Separately, European universities sent 194 students and staff to the Philippines between 2022 and 2025 through another Erasmus+ funding route.

International learning can also reach students who remain at home. Philippine institutions have been involved in 11 Erasmus+ higher education capacity-building projects selected between 2022 and 2025. One example, SPARK-COIL, brings together the five Ateneo universities with the Universidad de Alicante in Spain and WSB University in Poland. It aims to help universities include online collaboration in their courses, so students can work with peers in other countries without traveling abroad. These activities can help them develop digital skills and learn to work with people from different cultural backgrounds.

For those considering further study abroad, cost is often a key concern. Erasmus Mundus scholarships cover participation costs and contribute towards travel, visas and living expenses. Applications are competitive, and requirements vary between programs, so students should check deadlines and start preparing early.

I invite students and young professionals to explore their options for further study in Europe at the European Higher Education Fair (EHEF) on Nov. 20-21 at the Midtown Atrium of Robinsons Manila. Under the theme “Pathways to Excellence. Building the Future,” visitors can speak directly with representatives of European institutions about their study plans.

The EU Delegation works with EU member-states and Philippine universities to organize EHEF. Last year, it brought together over 3,800 students, educators and higher education professionals. This year, visitors can compare master’s and PhD programs, explore scholarships such as Erasmus Mundus and ask about admission requirements and life in Europe.

The EU can help more young Filipinos develop their talents and pursue meaningful careers. What they learn can benefit their communities, while the friendships and professional relationships they build can keep Europe and the Philippines connected long after their studies end. Students, researchers and young professionals will help shape the future of EU-Philippines cooperation!

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Massimo Santoro is the Ambassador of the European Union to the Philippines.