03 March 2016 - The Commission on Higher Education, led by Dr. Patrician Licuanan, participated in the first Eurasian Institutes of Higher Education Summit held at Halic Congress Center, Istanbul from February 17 to 19. The Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines, led by Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Mendoza Sanchez, extended full support to the Philippine Delegation.

Dr. Licuanan was the Plenary Speaker and gave the Keynote address entitled: “Women’s Access to Higher Education: Persistent and Emerging Issues”. She was joined by the following Presidents of higher education institutions from Mindanao, namely:

-           Dr. Macapado Muslim of Mindanao State University;

-           Dr. Maria Luisa Soliven of Central Mindanao University;

-           Dr. Dammang S. Bantala of Cotabato City State Polytechnic College; and

-           Dr. Milabel Enriquez-Ho of the Western Mindanao State University

-           Dr. Emmy Lou Yangga, Director IV, CHED

Dr. Licuanan and her delegation were hosted by Dr. Mustafa Aydin, President of Istanbul Aydin University, the Secretariat of EURAS, the organizer of the event. Following the opening plenary, the EURIE Exhibition involving more than 200 institutions of higher learning in Eurasia and other parts of the world was officially opened by Chair Licuanan and Dr. Aydin. The Deputy Undersecretary for Education Orhan Erdem also joined them. He later visited the booth of the Commission on Higher Education where 'More Fun in the Philippines’ posters of the Department of Tourism served as come-ons for the information materials from Mindanao State University, Central Mindanao State University, Western Mindanao State Unuversity and Cotabato City State Polytechnic College and CHED were distributed. The university presidents, CHED and Embassy personnel also took turns in manning the booth during the exhibit.

Ambassador Sanchez was accompanied by Minister and Consul General Robert Ferrer, Jr., and Attachés Jackie Lou C. Ong, Rowena F. Neri and George Llabres, who were also part of the delegation and assisted in setting up the Philippine booth and manning it during the two-day exhibit.

They also visited Istanbul’s Yeditepe University, a leading university in the areas of science, technology and cutting-edge research, and holder of the most number of science and technology patents in Turkey as well as the Istanbul Aydin University. END