There's no stopping GuidanceNGO from expanding its horizon.

Schoolguide magazine representatives are visiting higher education institutions (HEIs) in the 16 Philippine regions to compile information that will be disseminated not only nationwide, but also to the other countries in the ASEAN region. Alongside this, coordination efforts are being exhausted with the nine ASEAN embassies for the promotion of Philippine higher education. This promotional effort coincides with the current thrusts in globalized education which is expected to stimulate liberal movement of students in the ASEAN nations.

“In the past 14 years that we have been publishing and disseminating information about schools, we have noticed many foreign universities coming into the country to promote their educational services to Filipino students. I think some of our universities in the Philippines manifest excellence that they should be promoted to students in the other ASEAN countries as well,” shared Mr. Tom Ocampo, managing director of Schoolguide magazine.

Schoolguide’s information dissemination campaign in the ASEAN region formally began in August 2014 with the release of Schoolguide Intermediate Luzon and Schoolguide Intermediate Visayas and Mindanao.

In September to October 2015, Schoolguide magazine’s editor in chief Junn Geronimo visited colleges and universities in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand to secure information about higher education opportunities in these countries. This information gathering drive coincides with the implementation of the K to 12 curriculum which prepares Filipino students to meet the global standards in higher education; and the observance of international accords on education and employment requirements.

Succeeding visits to colleges and universities in the other ASEAN countries are expected to widen the educational perspective of Filipinos students and professionals who are seeking more opportunities for undergraduate and graduate studies. Seminars and workshops that tackle ASEAN higher education are being conducted in Philippine schools, universities, and workplaces.

“Schoolguide’s exhaustive efforts to disseminate information about university education in the other ASEAN countries should challenge the Philippine HEIs to be more competitive. Comparison is inevitable and this is the best time to shape up,” said Mr. Geronimo.