By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, Aug 14 (PNA) — The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreed on Friday to intensify cooperation on science and technology in education and the Philippines should take advantage of this partnership to create more quality jobs for Filipinos.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Director Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr. said this at the sidelines of the first Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science and Technology in Higher Education on Friday.
Juanillo said people in APEC economies should look at developments and innovations through science and technology as creator of jobs and a contributor to economic developments in the region.
“Instead of asking whether there will be available jobs after immersing in the field of science and technology, we should look at science and technology as an enabler to create jobs,” he said.
He noted that the higher education of all APEC member economies should reinforce to its young population the benefits of going into tracks of science and technology.
“It’s the 21st century. And there is no other way for the Philippines to move forward but to capitalize in science and technology. Science and technology is a platform for generating new knowledge because in the 21st century, knowledge is a currency,” he said.
“There should be more interest in science and technology in APEC region,” Juanillo stressed.
He added APEC economies, during the High-Level Policy Dialogue, agreed to intensify partnerships and collaboration on science and technology in higher education.
APEC economies will pursuit building partnerships among academe, government, and industry to enhance cross-border research collaboration, knowledge sharing, and exchange of experts in science and technology.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has concluded the two-day High-Level Policy Dialogue on Science and Technology in Higher Education on Friday at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) as part of its year-round hosting of the 2015 APEC Summit. (PNA)