On 2 December, Filipino education practitioners gathered for an Education Roundtable to discuss educational partnerships between the Philippines and Australia, ahead of the 80th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026.
The roundtable was organised by the Philippines–Australia Committee for Education (PACE) and hosted by the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) Melbourne. It was attended by academic and professional staff from universities and vocational education institutions, and aimed to map the past, present and future contributions of the Filipino diaspora to the education sectors of both countries.
Convened in 2021, PACE was co-founded by Robbie Guevara, Dr Marianne Sison, and former honorary consuls Raul Hernandez and Gigi Kalong. The group advocates for educational partnerships between the Philippines and Australia.
In opening the roundtable, PCG Melbourne Consul General Gary Domingo described education as a key pillar of Philippines–Australia relations and highlighted the role of the Filipino diaspora in national development.
“The Filipino-Australian professionals in engineering, law, health care and education are major drivers of economic and social progress in Victoria,” Domingo said. “It is great to see them organised and work together for a common goal.”
Dr Sison highlighted how the growing presence of Filipino academics and professionals in Australia presents opportunities to strengthen engagement between the two countries. She noted that first- and second-generation Filipinos working across the Australian tertiary education sector bring both intellectual and cultural capital that can be channelled toward broader social outcomes.
Associate Professor Guevara also emphasised the importance of collaboration among Filipino groups in Australia in building sustainable education partnerships with the Philippines.
“It is through partnerships within our groups in Australia that we can best establish and enhance educational partnerships between the Philippines and Australia,” he said.
Discussions during the roundtable revealed that many Australia-based Filipinos are already working individually on civic and research projects in the Philippines. Some are involved in Transnational Education programs through their institutions or associations, while others shared challenges encountered in developing cross-country partnerships.
Raul Hernandez, who has experience in the vocational education sector, said further work is needed to address barriers affecting bilateral educational collaboration.
“There are wonderful success stories of bilateral educational partnerships in other countries, in both Higher Education and Vocational Education sectors. We need to learn from these examples,” he said.
Participants identified several key themes, including the enhancement of Transnational Education programs, advocacy for recognition of Philippine qualifications, alignment of qualification frameworks, and expansion of research collaborations. Discussions also touched on education and migration policy considerations in both countries, as well as opportunities for greater Filipino diaspora contribution to education initiatives in the Philippines.
PACE indicated it will work with the Philippine Consulate General on education-related activities and policy advocacy in the lead-up to 2026.
