European Higher Education Fair 2013: expanding Filipino students’ horizon

MANILA, Philippines- Aside from education, Tats Manahan believes that Filipino students may adapt other things from Europe which could benefit our country's progress.

Manahan is an alumni from Centro Europeo Peri i Mestiari del Patrimonio Architecttonico in Italy, which the British Council invited to share her experiences in studying in Europe.

This is in connection to this year's upcoming European Higher Education Fair which will be held on Oct. 15, at The Peninsula Manila, in Makati City from10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Manahan took up Restoration of Fresco, and was taught in her alma mater how to really appreciate her craft.

"We were taught to look by our eye. So you learn the techniques by heart for you to do that."

This is the fair's third year in our country. First was in 2008, the second one was last year, and this will be their third year.

Aside from the France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom three more European countries joined this year's fair namely Ireland, Czech Republic, and Hungary.

With more countries being encouraged to join the event, Manahan believes that Filipinos should take advantage of this.

"They should grab the opportunity, take advantage of it!" she encouraged, “yes, this will really help us a lot.”

With greater horizons explored, Manahan can't help but share this knowledge to the less privileged youth of our country.

She's actually one of the teachers at Escuela Talier de Intramuros in Manila, where they teach them basic things about architecture.

Though it isn't easy for Manahan and her colleagues who also studied abroad, it is rewarding for them to see their improvements, educationally and socially.

"Kasi we’re in this level [of thinking] na, e, so we need to push them up there. So it’s hard, especially these are kids who grew up in houses without actual walls. We need to expose them, to familiarize them to the things we are teaching."

Julian Vassal, the political counsellor of European delegation to the Philippines, said there are 31 participating institutions this year.

If this year's fair gets better feedback, they plan to add another fair schedule which will be held in Visayas.

Here is the list of the participating institutions from 10 European countries:

Czech Republic
Tomas Bata University in Zlin
University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences

France
Audencia Nantes School of Management
ESSCA School of Management
Groupe ISA Lile
Montpellier Business School
N+ i Engineering Institutes
Toulouse Business School

Germany
Rheinland Institute

Hungary
Central European University

Ireland
Griffith College
Penang Medical College (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and University College in Dublin)

Italy
Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners
Istituto Marangoni
University of Genoa

Netherlands
Amsterdam Foundation Campus

Spain
IE Business School/ IE University
Universidad Catolica San Antonio de Murcia
Universidad de Oviedo

Sweden
KTH Royal Institute of Technology
Lund University

United Kingdom
Anglia Ruskin University
Cambridge Education Group
Hurt International Business School
Newcastle University
Northumbria University
The University of Northampton
The University of Nottingham
University of South Wales
University of the Arts London
University of West London