PH Embassy in Paris Signs Donation Agreement for the Philippine Studies Program with Science Po
President Mr. Mathias Vicherat and Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West, sign the Donation agreement. (Photo Ambassador Mahilum-West)
PARIS 30 September 2023 – The Philippine Embassy in Paris signed a Donation agreement with Sciences Po (Institut d'études politiques de Paris or Paris Institute of Political Studies), at its Paris Campusfor a Philippine Studies Program.
The Philippine Studies Program was made possible through a congressional initiative of the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. Senator Legarda proposed the project after the Philippine Senators’ parliamentary visit in France in 2022, and the DFA Office of Public and Cultural Diplomacy provided facilitation assistance.
Through the signing, France joins the expanding list of countries hosting a Philippine Studies Program.
The Philippine Studies Program in France will include initiatives showcasing Filipino history, cultures, languages, politics, economics, and/or society; Filipino-French relations, Filipinos in France and French in the Philippines.
In her remarks, the Senator shared her vision “to bridge cultures, share our heritage, and build a brighter future for generations to come.” In her introduction of the Senator, Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West described the Senator as “the moving spirit and inspiration” of the program.
Sciences Po President Mathias Vicherat expressed his appreciation for the partnership and stressed the importance of adding the Philippine Studies program to the University’s curriculum. He mentioned that there is a growing number of Filipino students enrolling in Sciences Po.
In her closing remarks, the Ambassador also shared her “hope that this program will serve as fertile ground for robust academic exchanges, deeper people-to-people relations, and a profound exploration of each other's cultures.”
Sciences Po is an international research university, ranked among the finest in the world in the field of the humanities and social sciences. It has around 15 000 students
distributed in seven multi-cultural campuses located in Dijon, Le Havre, Menton, Nancy, Paris, Poitiers and Reims, of which 50% are international students.
Aside from Philippine Embassy and Sciences Po representatives, the event was also covered by PTV 4 and TFC News Correspondents for ABS-CBN. END.
Audience listening to the message of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda. (Photo Ambassador Mahilum-West and Mr. Dick Villanueva)
Sciences Po President Mr. Mathias Vicherat and Ambassador Junever M. Mahilum-West, showing the signed agreement. (Photo Patricia Alexandra Gawaran)
President Mr. Mathias Vicherat being interviewed by PTV4 after the signing (Photo Ambassador Mahilum-West)
Philippine Embassy Team with Mr. Etienne Cazin, Director of the Centre for Asia Pacific, Africa and the Middle East (second from left) (Photo Ambassador Mahilum-West)
For more information, visit https://www.parispe.dfa.gov.ph , http://www.facebook.com/PHinFrance or https://twitter.com/PHinFrance