TO DIVERSIFY educational opportunities in the United States of America (USA), the American Embassy has organized an event aimed at providing essential information to Cebuanos who aspire to pursue higher education abroad.
At least 23 American colleges and universities, some of which offered full scholarships to prospective students, participated in the 4th EducationUSA University Fair, held in Cebu City on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023.
Pauline Anderson, officer for deputy of public engagement, said the fair is to help match the interest of Cebuano students with the education available in the United States.
“To the students here, you completed the first steps to a quality U.S. education today by coming here to seek answers to your questions, to meet with university representatives, and to assure your parents that you will be okay getting on that plane to pursue your studies. I know you have a bright future ahead of you,” she said.
She said around 3,000 Filipinos go to the USA annually for educational purposes.
The embassy’s strategic goal is to boost this number by bringing U.S. educational institutions closer to the community in Cebu, making world-class education more accessible to local students.
According to the embassy, the following American colleges and universities present in Cebu were Arizona State University (Kaplan International Pathways USA); California State University - San Bernardino; Cascadia College; Clark College; College of Southern Nevada; Green River Community; Kent State University; Lewis University; Merrimack College; Moraine Valley Community College; New York Institute of Technology; Riverside City College; Savannah College of Art and Design; SUNY at Albany; SUNY College at Plattsburgh; The University of Tennessee - Chattanooga; Troy University; University of Colorado at Boulder; University of Hawai’i at Manoa; University of San Francisco; University of Utah Asia Campus; Valencia College; Xavier University; Yale University (School of the Environment); and York College of Pennsylvania.
Anderson told SunStar Cebu that though more students are inclined towards science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education or Stem programs, there is room for other fields of study, such as arts.
Christian DiGregorio, director of international recruitment of York College of Pennsylvania, said they recently provided a full tuition scholarship for a Cebuano student for the Psychology program.
“Though it was quite an application process... but she was so bright and deserving she got the award and was able to come in August and started her classes,” she said.
DiGregorio said these scholarships are funded from donations provided by their school alumni and other sponsors.
He added that aside from the Cebuano students, there were also beneficiaries from Pasig City and Laguna who got to enjoy the scholarship.
Fiona Martha Prietos, a hospitality student from the University of San Carlos, said she attended the fair with the hope of getting a scholarship for her graduate studies soon.
“We are very happy to have this opportunity near to us in Cebu. They allow students to pursue [studies] in the USA,” she said.
EducationUSA, a prominent network within the U.S. Department of State, comprises over 430 international student advising centers spanning more than 175 countries and territories.
These centers play a pivotal role in advocating US higher education to students worldwide, providing precise, comprehensive and up-to-date information about educational opportunities at accredited postsecondary institutions across the United States.
Anderson said the 4th EducationUSA University Fair serves as a testament to the American Embassy’s unwavering commitment to fostering educational diversity and global inclusivity by providing a pivotal platform for students and institutions to interact.
Before arriving in Cebu, the EducationUSA Fair made its first stop in Manila on Oct. 10 to offer education opportunities to students there, according to Anderson.