Work visit to the Philippines: Cooperation in education, health and social services

Why are the Philippines an interesting partner country for the social services sector?

The Philippines offers a rich context, says Sander Kamphuis from the School of Education. The country has many contrasts: there is both wealth and poverty. Education is high on the political agenda and they are investing in quality. Moreover, there is an open attitude: they are eager to cooperate and learn from one another. For our students, it is a safe destination and the language of instruction is English, which makes communication easier.

There is a lot to learn in the Philippines regarding healthcare services, education and social work. Sander explains further: “Internationalisation is about broadening horizons. Young professionals gaining knowledge abroad about other education systems and views on education. Learning from one another. Both at Saxion and in other countries. That is incredibly important.”

At the teacher training programme we choose high-quality learning placements abroad. Places where students can really learn something. Where they can share knowledge. Not just contribute knowledge, but also gain it. The Philippines is certainly such a place.

How does Erasmus+ support your cooperation?

Student exchanges are made possible through the Erasmus+ KA171 programme. We don't just want to contribute knowledge, but above all cooperate and learn from one another, explains Henny Oude Maatman. He has been involved in the cooperation with the Philippines right from the start. Thanks to KA171, Filipino students can come to Saxion for an international minor or a customised programme in healthcare. We also organise online guest lectures and look at joint (virtual) projects and research about equal opportunities in education.

Which students are eligible for gaining international experience at Saxion?

In our contact with partner universities Cebu Normal and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU), it has been agreed that students will be selected who normally do not have the financial means for an international learning experience. These students often grew up under completely different circumstances. This group in particular shows how great inequality is in education, but also more broadly within society, and this needs attention. It is enriching to involve these students in, for example, the Global Citizenship or Innovative Educational Approaches minor.

You visited two partner universities in the Philippines during the summer holidays. How was the visit?

Filipinos are tremendously hospitable, Sander says. We always received a warm welcome, sometimes even in a way that feels a bit awkward and un-Dutch to us. The guest lectures were well-attended and the involvement of students and colleagues was high. Interestingly, Filipino students' concentration curve is significantly longer than that of a Dutch student. Cooperation with the ministerial education office in Manila is also good. This opens doors for internationalisation and quality improvement in education.

What opportunities are there for Saxion students in the Philippines?

The cooperation with the Philippines was initiated by the School of Education, Henny describes. For education students, there are opportunities in Montessori education and other types of primary education. Later the cooperation broadened to include the School of Health, partly because we worked with Philippine universities in the I-Succeed project.

Healthcare students can gain hands-on experience in nursing and physiotherapy. For example, internships can be combined with classes. We collaborate with both OLFU (private university) and Cebu Normal University (public university) so that students learn about different contexts.

How will cooperation with the Philippines continue?

Educational innovation is high on the agenda in the Philippines. The aim is for the country to become a leader in the ASEAN region. That's quite a challenge. Our partners are eager to work with us on AI and educational innovation. We can work as equals with OLFU and are looking into the options with Cebu. We hope to launch a joint AI project soon.