The Philippines is set for a broader partnership in higher education with the Turkiye, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

In a statement, CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said more areas of cooperation have been discussed following the completion of the five-year memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the two countries.

De Vera met with the Council of Higher Education of Turkiye President Erol Özvar on the sidelines of the Eurasia Higher Education Summit in Istanbul.

“While we continue to push for partnerships in fisheries, it is now possible to expand by bringing together universities with excellent Science, Technology, and Engineering programs from both countries,” he said Monday night.

“We should think of possible opportunities in the fisheries first, then we can extend our cooperation to other areas,” Özvar said.

Among the possible areas of partnerships discussed are university research in the defense industry, industrial partnerships, as well as upskilling and reskilling programs.

In 2018, the two countries have secured partnerships in fisheries and marine sciences.

The collaboration involved sending graduate students to Turkiye, panel membership of Turkish faculty members to theses and dissertations of graduate students, and other activities between universities in the two countries. (PNA)