On May 30-31, 2023, 200 higher education leaders and officials from 15 cities across the Philippines gathered in Manila for USAID’s Opportunity 2.0 Higher Education Learning Summit. Mission Director Ryan Washburn led the event together with Chairperson Prospero de Vera III of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education. USAID Higher Education Senior Advisor Samantha Alvis served as one of the keynote speakers.
USAID’s support to the country’s higher education institutions is deepening and is elevating the function of universities, colleges, and training institutes in strengthening the larger system that address the complex needs of out-of-school youth (OSY) to successfully transition to higher studies and employment.
At least 70 USAID-supported higher education institutions have produced OSY-focused research, rolled out work and business readiness training for OSYs, trained local government officials on positive youth development, and designed OSY-responsive innovations. Their trailblazing efforts on OSY development were featured in this summit.