Spain to continue accepting PH scholars

The Spanish Embassy in Manila on Monday said it would continue sending Filipino students to Spain to pursue studies and research in order to enhance its diplomatic ties with the Philippines.

Spanish Ambassador to the Philippines Luis Calvo hosted a reception on Monday night for Filipino scholars who have finished their scholarship and mobility programs as part of the 70-year celebration of Philippine-Spain diplomatic relations.

“[By sending Filipino students to study in Spain], you bring the Spanish experience to the Philippines and in the same way, take the Filipino experience to Spain. This is a very important contribution to our relations and we would like to continue that,” Calvo said in an interview.

Calvo also said that through its mobility programs, it could address the mismatch between the universities and the job market in the Philippines.

The scholarship programs include the Erasmus Plus and the Hispanex Grants program, which aims to promote cultural research and dissemination of Hispanic Studies.

It also offers educational grants for master’s courses for civil servants and staff in the public systems in the fields of development, environmental studies, gender, education, agriculture and teaching of Spanish. —JOCELYN R. UY