LINGAYEN–The chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has lauded the influx of foreign students as a valuable contribution to the country’s economy.

Carlito Puno, CHED chairman, said the country is succeeding in its efforts to promote educational tourism as evidenced by the entry of foreign students, particularly Koreans, in major cities around the country.

In Dagupan, a considerable number of Korean students are already present, but their population is still minimal compared with other major cities like Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao.

“We’re using higher education as an entry point to tourism and other economic ventures,” Puno told local newsmen here last week.

Puno was here to confer the Doctor of Humanities degree honoris causa given by the Pangasinan State University to Georgina de Venecia, wife of House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. for her advocacy to alleviate the plight of abused women and children in the country.

He said the entry of foreign students here is an indication of the high level of competitiveness of the country’s educational system.

Aside from the Koreans, other nationalities coming here to pursue higher education courses include Indians, Nepales and Chinese.

He said this also motivates private schools and universities in the country to “put their house in order” to be ready to welcome these foreign students.

Foreign students are charged higher tuition fees, which benefit the schools or universities where they are enrolled at.

The additional revenues should enable schools to upgrade their facilities and enable them to charge local students very minimal tuition fees.

 Puno said the government has started to promote the country’s educational programs in China having signed a memorandum of agreement for a student-exchange program.—EVA

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