Philippine Studies Program Launched with University of Zürich

BERN 13 December 2024 – The Philippine Embassy in Berne and the University of Zürich have signed an agreement on 10 December 2024, at the Chancery in Bern, to embark on a Philippine Studies Project, a first in Switzerland.

Under the agreement, signed by Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Bernard Faustino M. Dy and Prof. Andrea Migliano of the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, the University of Zürich receives a grant of PHP1 million to undertake activities to promote research studies in the Philippines. The focus will be primarily on the indigenous peoples of the coastal provinces of Northeastern Philippines. 

The grant was made possible by Senator Loren Legarda who has championed the establishment of Philippine Studies Programs with universities around the world. The program is aimed at promoting understanding of Filipino culture and strengthening scholarship in the Philippines.

The University of Zürich’s Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, specifically the Human Evolutionary Ecology Group under Prof. Migliano, has been undertaking research on the Agta people for nearly 15 years. The Philippine Studies Program is expected to further strengthen their research activities, including facilitating international exchanges between scholars and experts in the Philippines and Switzerland. This would not only help preserve the traditions and way of life of the Agta, but also promote deeper awareness of their rich culture, including their oral tradition and respect for nature, in Switzerland.

For more information, visit www.bernepe.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinSwitzerland.