Opportunities. Collaboration. Impact.

These were the words used by the participants when reflecting on what ERASMUS+ means for them and their institutions. The inaugural ERASMUS+ Regional Cluster meeting and contact-making seminar, held in Hanoi, Vietnam on November 29-30, 2023, brought together over 200 participants from 41 countries.

The dynamic atmosphere of the conference mirrored the spirit of the ERASMUS+ program, with representatives from Asia and the Pacific region converging to share experiences, insights, and best practices. The event showcased the 2021-2027 ERASMUS+ framework, highlighting various opportunities and actions, including Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE), International Credit Mobility (ICM), and Jean Monnet Actions.

Operating under the CBHE model, PATHWAY project consortium members actively participated in discussions, networked with fellow ERASMUS+ project implementers, and gained inspiration from the experiences of their colleagues. The PATHWAY team took advantage of the platform to share the project's progress during the CBHE breakout session and structured networking. Additionally, the conference unveiled ERASMUS+ priorities, focusing on the green and digital transition, government, peace security and human development, and sustainable growth and jobs. Addressing these contemporary challenges necessitates strengthened collaboration among universities, the private sector, the ministry of education, and other stakeholders. These challenges call for further equipping capable and resilient leaders.

From a business perspective, ECCP sees the PATHWAY project and ERASMUS+ actions as an excellent opportunity to break silos, enhance employability, improve entrepreneurial skills among higher education graduates, and bridge universities with the private sector, leveraging stakeholders’ strengths and resources. As a proud partner of PATHWAY, ECCP, with nearly 800 members, extends its broad business network to contribute a unique perspective to the project. The Chamber also supports Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in profiling career and business incubator centers and provides insights on curriculum reform. There are also extensive collaboration opportunities, particularly concerning the twin challenges of green and digital transition.

Indeed, the ERASMUS+ Regional Conference and Contact-Making Seminar in Hanoi marked a significant milestone in ongoing efforts to promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and cultural understanding. Looking back, we also celebrate the achievements of the PATHWAY Project, encompassing industry-HEI talks, the World Café facilitating relevant questions about university-industry cooperation, capacity-building workshops, training of trainers, national-level workshop replications, and the creation of a Competency Framework, observatory, and other services.

While we have more work to do, these outcomes showcase the impact of close collaboration among stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education, government institutions, higher education institutions, and the private sector.

Together, we can create more opportunities through closer collaboration and drive sustainable, meaningful impact.// Sophia Ordoña, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP)