Ford Foundation - Pathways to Higher EducationA Ford Foundation Global Initiative for Promoting Inclusiveness in Higher Education

A Ford Foundation Global Initiative for Promoting Inclusiveness in Higher Education

Philippines: Synergeia Foundation

· Total student population: 2 million

· 2,400 current Pathways students

· Pathways participant since 2006

Goals
To establish quality education as both a universal right and a foundation for economic development and poverty alleviation, the Synergeia Foundation strives to:

  • Enable organizations and institutions to develop and implement policies and programs that will support their success in completing higher education
  • Assess policies and practices that support the completion of university education among disadvantaged students and promote those that have worked
  • Work with partner institutions to create environments and systems that support cultural and socio-economic diversity
  • Facilitate the convergence of organizations and individuals working on student success and access in higher education

Target Population
Synergeia Foundation reached out to universities and institutions serving low-income students.

Outcomes
As the intermediary between the Ford Foundation and the Philippine's Pathways institutions, Synergeia Foundation has:

  • Worked with public colleges and universities to develop and implement programs to enable disadvantaged students to successfully complete Bachelor degrees
  • Strengthened local school boards to include Pathways programs in their agenda
  • Worked with industry leaders to take the lead in convening regional institutions to support Pathways programs