Education tourism in RP

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The initiative of the Commission on Higher Education to make all educational institutions in the country as premier alternative educational destinations for students from foreign countries in the years to come is laudable.

The concept called "education tourism" would make the Philippines an alternative educational destination where neighboring countries could send their students to study here.

The concept complements the government's tourist promotion program.

Dumaguete City is a prime example of how Philippine education is a promising factor in drawing in international students. Touted as a university town, the city's academic environment with its four universities of higher learning and several colleges for a population of over 100,000 has attracted several foreign students.

In Silliman University alone there are 251 foreign students from 19 countries enrolled in various courses this school year. Koreans have the highest number of students with 105, followed, by Iranians 49, and Americans 44. Other nationalities enrolled this year include Indonesians, Germans, Tanzanians, Canadians, Thais, Japanese, Australian, British and other nationalities.

To borrow the line from the movie "Field of Dreams, "You build it and they will come." This will surely attract foreign students from Asian countries because of its affordability, short distance, and an opportunity to attain fluency in English.

We believe that the presence of these foreign students in the university has benefited the city's tourism industry in terms of increases in business revenues and in the improved marketing strategy of several businessmen. We hope CHED is serious in this new endeavors and that it is not just an after thought that will forever remain a blueprint without the needed political will to implement the project.*