PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN PORTUGAL TO PUSH MORE TIES WITH PORTUGUESE UNIVERSITIES

Philippine Ambassador to Portugal, Paul Raymund P. Cortes, recently embarked on a series of engagements aimed at exploring academic cooperation with esteemed Portuguese Universities - the University of Aveiro and the University of Porto.

Ambassador Cortes paid a courtesy call on 09 May 2024 with the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation and 3rd Cycle Programme of the University of Aveiro, Dr. Artur  Silva, who was joined by  Dr. Carlos Rodrigues, coordinator of the Centre of Asian Studies, Dr. Carlos Costa, Chairman of the INVTUR International Conference 2024 and Dr. Rogelio Policarpio Flores, Filipino Post-doctoral Research Fellow and Forum Organizer to discuss potential avenues for collaboration. Both parties explored opportunities for student exchanges, academic partnerships, and joint research endeavors, with a particular focus on environmental diplomacy and marine aquatic sustainability. During the discussions, Ambassador Cortes also proposed a Philippine Embassy-organized lecture series on Marine and Maritime law, drawing from the Philippines' rich experience in international maritime agreements and addressing contemporary challenges in the field.

The courtesy call was followed by a comprehensive lecture by Ambassador Cortes on Tourism, Sustainability and Environmental Diplomacy at the forum "Tourism, Development, and International Relations: Exploring New Directions in the Far East," as part of the INVTUR 2024 International Conference.

He highlighted the Philippine government's strategic eco-tourism initiatives, emphasizing the crucial importance of the tourism sector as a driver of economic growth that creates opportunities and livelihoods in many of the most remote communities, and across all sectors of society in the Philippines and the Philippine government's efforts to develop policies that prioritize the preservation of natural resources while promoting inclusive and sustainable tourism.

Following the successful engagement with the University of Aveiro,  Ambassador Cortes then proceeded to Porto to meet with the officials of the University of Porto, Dr. António de Sousa Pereira,  Rector  and Dra. Maria Joana de Carvalho, Vice Rector for International Relations, on 10 May 2024.

During the courtesy call, Ambassador Cortes highlighted the Embassy's commitment to fostering research-oriented exchanges and active partnerships among Filipino and Portuguese students and members of the academe. Vice Rector Carvalho shared their recent visit to the Philippines, where they had fruitful discussions with the University of Manila and the Ateneo de Manila University. The University of Porto officials expressed their enthusiasm for furthering these dialogues and enhancing interactions between Porto and Philippine higher educational institutions.

Through the recent engagements with the University of Aveiro and the University of Porto, the Philippine Embassy looks forward to strengthening ties with Portuguese academic institutions to foster mutual understanding and appreciation, enhance people-to-people linkages, and promote academic excellence between the Philippines and Portugal.