The Higher Education Review

Earned his Doctor of Education from University of San Francisco, USA, Jose Paulo E. Campos currently handles the chair of President in EAC. He also has the degrees like MBA in Finance from Columbia University, New York, USA and BSc. in Industrial Engineering from University of the Philippines. Additionally, he has memberships in professional organizations such as the Philippine Association of Private Schools & Universities, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Association (COCOPEA),the Association of Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC) and so on.

The Philippines being a country, which has two official languages namely, Filipino and English, maximum of the educational institutions established in the country offers education with English as a medium. This factor greatly helps the international students to pursue their desired courses without any language barrier and enables them to develop a friendship with the local students smoothly. Nestled amidst the heart of Manila, the capital city of the Philippines and comprising of around 15 percent international students of its total student strength, Emilio Aguinaldo College (EAC) provides its student community diverse cultural experiences along with a global education. A private, non-sectarian, coeducational academic institute, EAC was commenced in 1973 by a team of physicians from the Manila Medical Center with the vision of preparing the students for dynamic careers in the allied health sciences and subsequently also in medicine.

Apart from the language factor, one more element that highly captivates the foreign students towards Philippines is its low cost of education, which is apparently lowest among the Southeast Asian educational destinations, especially compared to the two other countries where English is the medium of instruction - Singapore and Malaysia. "The EAC programmes are delivered in two campuses- Manila and Dasmarinas City, Cavite. And we pride on offering all the programs in a very affordable fee, letting the foreign students get access to

a quality international education without having to splurge much fortune," shares Jose Paulo E. Campos, President, EAC.

"Today, EAC hosts 31 programs, 14 in the Health Sciences including Medicine and Dentistry, 6 in Engineering and Technology and 11 in the Social and Basic Sciences"

Initially started with conducting courses like nursing, midwifery and medical office administration, the institute later expanded its offerings with the introduction of demandable courses such as radiologic technology and medical technology (also known as laboratory science). Today, EAC hosts 31 programs, 14 in the Health Sciences including Medicine and Dentistry, 6 in Engineering and Technology and 11 in the Social and Basic Sciences. “Emilio Aguinaldo College - School of Medicine (EAC – SOM) is comprised of different people from different nationalities, which makes it a global community for diverse learning. I was completely satisfied with my undergraduate experience here. So, after graduating in BS Biology, I decided to apply for Medicine here,” says Moosani Farhan, an international student from India pursuing third year Medicine at EAC-SOM.

Campos points, "Among all the courses, our Indian students are found mostly enrolling into Medicine. Understanding they enter our institute leaving behind their home country with high hopes, all the members of the institute make sure our foreign student community feel like home and comfortable inside the EAC campus." Given this, the EAC also has placed an international student office within the campuses, which dedicatedly coordinates the different units of the school including dormitory residences, visa requirements, finance and counseling for all international students. Likewise, the faculty members and the administrators render optimum flexibility with schedules, allowing the students to observe their respective traditions. "The teachers here are very experienced in their field. They leave no step behind in imparting their knowledge to answer our questions in the best manner that we can understand the concepts easily. In addition to studies, my professors have always been supportive, helpful and understanding towards me and I have never left a single chance to boost up my confidence at the times when I felt low,” shares Alshwarya Agarwal, a 3rd Year Doctor of Medicine student, who travelled all the way to EAC from Delhi.

An Abode of Knowledge

It is no secret that food is not just tummy filler for Indians, but is an emotion. Realizing this,

EAC has positioned a food outlet in each of its campuses where some top-most favorite regional Indian cuisines have been served. The students are also facilitated by encouraging to actively participating in the college council and different cultural events. "We extend academic scholarship opportunities for international students including students from India enrolled in the MD program which is patterned after those extended to Philippine nationals. Also, students are assisted with temporary financial difficulties by allowing later payments using a promissory note," claims Campos. The Manila campus of the institute being located in an area settled by the Filipino Indian community, who are immensely friendly and supportive, the Indian students of the EAC hardly miss their native places.

Campos opines, "In parallel to providing robust student services, we also assure to gift the best learning experience to our students for which we have appointed a range of reputed and experienced faculty members." The Institute strongly believes in imparting a medical education which has a good integration of clinical practice in the medical and allied medical education and this becomes possible owing to the two hospitals Manila Medical Center that is situated in the Manila campus and the Emilio Aguinaldo College Medical Center in the Cavite campus. As the clinical faculty practices here, the EAC students' clinical subjects are also imparted via hands-on-training. Campos adds, "Students intern with practitioners or specialists in their fields for periods of one year through three years in medicine to graduate with the basic degree. Further specializations may be taken in graduate programs or in the case of medicine, in the residency programs."

EAC boasts of sustaining a long tradition of offering education in medicine and the allied health sciences, and this enables the EAC graduates to stand out. Ensuring the students receive an individualized education, the faculty members carry out the teaching-learning process through class lectures followed by small group discussions. "Medical education is primarily a residential program so that students can learn cooperatively. The school has a spacious and comfortable area where cooperative learning takes place," says Campos. Having a record of its Indian graduates successfully passing out the licensure exams administered by the Medical Council of India over the years, EAC assures to granting its overseas students a solid foundation of lifelong learning and unmatched international professional networks.