West Visayas State University (WVSU), through its International and Local Linkages Office (ILLO), has taken another significant step towards global academic collaboration with its participation in the Fonds Equipe France – Rapide (FEF-R) Students’ Exchange Mobility post-meeting, held on March 18-19, 2025, at the Alliance Française de Manille, Makati City.
Hosted by the Embassy of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, the meeting focused on strengthening educational exchanges between the Philippines and France, and exploring future initiatives to enhance student mobility between the two nations.
Ms. Edel Carmela S. Subong-Csoka, Director of ILLO, was part of the Roundtable Discussion on Acquired Competencies and Assets, where she shared insights on student activities organized by the French Embassy and reflected on her experience attending the European Association for International Education (EAIE) conference in Toulouse, France, in September 2024.
She emphasized the importance of international collaborations in higher education, particularly the competencies and connections gained from such partnerships. She also spoke about the FEF-R program’s impact on enriching students’ academic and cultural exchanges, particularly in strengthening educational ties between the Philippines and France.
“My participation at the pre-conference, EAIE, and the post meetings, enriched my knowledge on the French educational system, culture and language. But most importantly, this initiative by the French Embassy opened doors for us to venture into projects for student organizations like the Sanctuarium Maris, and to accept French interns. As a state university, we don’t have the budget to send all students to France, but thru the home-based internationalization initiatives, we can bring them closer to the French”, she said.
WVSU’s inclusion as one of the sixteen colleges and universities selected in the project highlights its commitment to international education and its growing role in fostering global collaboration.
By Gladwyn B. Gustilo/ILLO
