Officials of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona welcome International Relations students of Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull at the Consulate on 19 February 2023 for a seminar on Philippine Foreign Policy. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
BARCELONA, 20 February 2024 – The Philippine Consulate General hosted a seminar on Philippine Foreign Policy, engaging students from the Blanquerna-Universitat Ramon Llull University (URL) School for Communication & International Relations, on 19 February 2024, while urging them to consider an Asian perspective later in their specialization programs.
Led by Blanquerna-URL Director for the Undergraduate Program in International Relations Onno Gerard Hubert Seroo, the visit engaged freshmen International Relations (IR) students, predominantly Spanish, for a two-hour session which also included discussion on Philippine trade and economics and a tour of the Consulate’s consular section.
Philippine Consul General to Barcelona Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro emphasized the significance of Asia in geopolitics, thus the projected demand for experts on the Asia-Pacific region among think tanks and academe in Barcelona, if not throughout Spain. “I encourage our IR students to consider specializing on matters regarding Asia-Pacific for their studies and future careers,” said Consul General Lazaro.
The seminar formed part of the student’s ongoing IR lesson on “foreign policy actors and structures”, with the other groups concurrently visiting other Consulates General in Barcelona.
“We recognize that the engagement with the Consulates General, as foreign policy actors, plays a vital role in enhancing the learning and exposure of our international relations students in this highly complex world. We thank the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona for providing us the opportunity to network and learn practical and first-hand lessons on diplomacy, thereby enriching our students for meaningful contributions to the field of international relations,” Director Seroo said.
The Philippine Consulate General’s growing partnerships with universities under its jurisdiction endeavour a more informed and inclusive approach to Europe's engagement with Asia and the Philippines' integration into the global discourse. This is the third time that the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona partnered with Blanquerna-URL on pursuing discussions of mutual interest. END
Blanquerna-URL Director for the Undergraduate Program in International Relations Onno Gerard Hubert Seroo (standing) explains the objectives of the students’ visit and expresses gratitude to the Philippine Consulate General for being a partner for the University. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
The Philippine Consulate General presents discussions on the Philippine Foreign Policy, with focus on actors, structure, and PH Foreign Policy priorities with the students of Blanquerna School for Communication & International Relations- Ramon Llull University (URL) on 19 February 2024. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)
The visit of the students of Blanquerna School for Communication & International Relations- Ramon Llull University (URL) on 19 February 2024 included an orientation of the Philippine Consulate General in Barcelona’s consular section. (Photo by Barcelona PCG)