A Briefer about the Commission on Higher Education and

its Internationalization Initiatives

1. About the Commission
In support of the Philippine Development Plan, “Ambisyon 2040” which aspires for Filipinos to
enjoy a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life (“Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay
para sa lahat ng Pilipino”), the Commission on Higher Education has identified and will focus on 4
key result areas (KRAs) and outcomes:

1. Equitable & Inclusive Access

Reinforce equitable and inclusive access to quality higher education for Filipinos
regardless of age, ethnicity, socio-economic status, disability status, sexuality orientation,
or geographic location.

2. Quality & Excellence

Ensure quality and excellence are sustained by higher education institutions in providing
programs and services that develop students to be locally responsive, innovative, globally
competitive, and lifelong learners.

3. World-class Higher Education and Global Citizenship

Advance internationalization of Philippine higher education to be a recognized
world-class higher education system that prepares its students, learners, and graduates
to live and work in multicultural communities as responsible ASEAN and global citizens
while contributing to the national innovation agenda that drives economic development
and global competitiveness.

4. Social Responsibility & Responsiveness

Strengthen social responsibility and responsiveness of higher education institutions to
cultivate the bayanihan spirit or civic-mindedness of students through relevant and
comprehensive community extension programs that develop sustainable communities.

5. Smart & Innovative CHED

CHED, in leading the higher education sector towards achieving CHED’s vision and
mission, Ambisyon Natin 2040, and SDG 2030, will be a smart and innovative organization
that is highly resilient, able to adapt to changes and forecast the future.

2. About the International Affairs Service (IAS)

The International Affairs Service is a high-level technical secretariat of the Commission on Higher
Education. This department through the leadership of its director, Atty. Lily Freida
Macabangun-Milla, assists the CHED Chairperson in the implementation of education matters
involving other countries and international education organizations.

Through the Building Internationalization Competitiveness of Philippine Higher Education

Program, the International Affairs Service endeavors to uphold international commitments and
support Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in promoting internationalization engagement,
learning, discovery, and meaningful collaborations, thereby, developing a globally-competitive
human resource and building a knowledge-based society. All these are intended to strengthen
the ASEAN identity and community and mold the next generation of global citizens.‌
Almost a decade ago, a prevailing problem noted in the Philippine higher education sector was
the lack of collective interest in tackling challenges and developments brought about by
globalization. This adversely affected the country’s competitiveness, both in the regional and
 international arenas. Against this backdrop, CHED has since vigorously pursued efforts to
internationalize Philippine higher education to capture opportunities presented by globalization
while contributing to local and national development.
Three initial strategies were employed to internationalize Philippine higher education:

1. The expansion of country-wide and region-wide mobility of students, faculty, and staff;
2. The establishment of an environment that will promote international exchanges and
collaboration; and
3. The creation of a quality assurance framework and the necessary processes.

Milestones

3. About our Financial Sustainability

In 2020, CHED allocated an internationalization budget of Php 397.5 million which increased to
Php 642 million in 2021. Currently, the budget allocation for internationalization is 1 Billion, a
significant increase from the previous years and expected to increase in the years to come. Our
initiatives are anchored within our mandate to develop projects to support higher education
institutions. This is underpinned by the intrinsic Filipino culture, Bayanihan where no one is left
behind.

4. About our Legal and Regulatory Landscape

a. Policy Framework on the Internationalization of Philippine Higher Education

In 2016, CHED issued CHED Memorandum Order No. 55 titled, “Policy Framework on the
Internationalization of Philippine Higher Education,” which aims to be the overarching
policy that will guide the sector’s internationalization efforts, bearing in mind the
country’s national interest, security, and identity. It has since been at the heart of CHED’s
efforts to use internationalization as a means to improve the quality of Philippine higher
education, stimulate innovation and technological advancement, and build an informed
citizenry, a more participative and inclusive society, and improve the lives of Filipinos.

Guided by the said CMO, there has been a strong drive to create significant changes in
Philippine Higher Education through internationalization. As mentioned, the Commission
has embarked on numerous international partnerships that produced landmark
initiatives on international trainings, study missions and fellowships, and
government-funded scholarships to study abroad.

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan
 b. Internationalization Roadmap

The Internationalization (IZN) Roadmap provides the direction for internationalization

initiatives over the four pillars and demonstrates the action plan for achieving these
strategic goals towards the advancement of a Philippine higher education sector that
drives the country’s transformation effecting “more inclusive growth, a high-trust and
resilient society, and a globally competitive knowledge economy” as envisioned in
AmBisyon Natin 2040.

5. Flagship Programs of IAS to internationalize Philippine Higher Education

a. Scholarship for Graduate Studies-Abroad (SGS-A)

By supporting qualified staff who wish to pursue graduate studies abroad, we develop
niche priority program areas that remain unavailable or underdeveloped. To date, we
have 277 scholars. Through these grants, our scholars are able to delve into
specializations that require access and mastery of facilities that are not yet available in
the country.

b. Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Scholarships

In partnership with the British Council, sixteen TNHE programs were developed. Linking
ten Philippine higher education institutions to nine higher education institutions in the
United Kingdom resulted in the creation of dual or joint graduate degree programs. Now,
the Commission has a scholarship grant for these Transnational Education programs. To
date, we have approved 75 TNE scholars. Nineteen of these scholars have already
graduated with degrees awarded by both the Philippine and UK institutions.

c. International Continuing Professional Education (ICPE)

The Commission also expanded international trainings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CHED issued the “International Continuing Professional Education (ICPE) Grants” in
2020. ICPE Grants are funded international certificate programs and/or short training

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan
 courses awarded to highly competent Filipinos in different fields of professions to impart
specialized knowledge, competencies, skills, and qualifications in fields or programs
which the Philippine Higher Education system cannot adequately fill or supply on its own.
Currently, it has produced 11 programs with at least 3,563 higher education faculty and
staff participants.

d. National Roadmap for Global Competitiveness in Communication Skills (NRGCCS)

The National Roadmap for Global Competitiveness in Communication Skills is a 3-year

initiative envisioned to be the country's response to various challenges and opportunities
concerning the country's level of proficiency in leading globally recognized and used
languages. It aims to further develop our current advantage especially in English language
proficiency and communication, develop skills in other international languages towards a
globally competitive knowledge economy.

The project aims to:

1. Improve and maintain our competitive edge in leading global languages,
especially those used in international business, trade and education to develop
the competitiveness of the Philippine workforce in a globally competitive
knowledge economy;
2. Address the issues of the Philippines in language proficiency and language
internationalization by aligning to commonly used global standards (i.e. Common
Framework of Reference for Languages); and
3. Pursuing awareness-building initiatives, teacher training programs, orientation
workshops, training programs for faculty and administrations, research and
development, and the publication of Open Educational Resources (OERs)

e. Bayanihan Collaborative Open International Learning (COIL) International Mobility in the

New Normal: Modernizing the iLab as an Innovative Laboratory for Global Education and
Digital Citizenship (iLab) Project

Higher education institutions, together with CHED will retrofit Bayanihan COIL iLab which
will serve as an innovation laboratory for global education and digital citizenship.

Through COIL, the students will be given opportunities for cross-cultural communication
and exchange of insights on global issues. This will also serve as a platform for
curriculum internationalization and global citizenship.

f. Fostering World-Class Philippine Universities Program (Fostering)

The Fostering World Class Philippine Universities Program aims to ramp up the
internationalization initiatives of state universities and colleges (SUCs). It seeks to
encourage and incentivize SUCs for good practices, thrusts, and programs on
internationalization that deliver on fulfilling sustainable goals not just on education, but
also on seventeen (17) other goals stated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
2030.

Recognizing the importance of fostering international linkages and boosting the global
academic reputation of Philippine higher education institutions, CHED and Quacquarelli
Symonds (QS) agreed to collaborate to align the common goals of both parties to work on
the internationalization of the Philippines higher education institutions.

The grantees for this project were selected through the following qualifications:
● Must be SUC Level 3 or Level 4
● Must have at least 1 Center of Excellence (COE) or Center of Development (COD)

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan
 ● Must have a Board approved Strategic Internationalization Plan (SIP)

In 2019, only 4 HEIs (UP, DLSU, ADMU, UST) were ranked internationally. As of September
2022, a total of 45 HEIs have been ranked and rated in globally recognized rankings and
ratings (i.e QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and World’s Universities with Real Impact
(WURI).

g. Study in the Philippines Program (StudyPH)

The StudyPH Program seeks to establish the Philippines as a center of quality higher
education in identified niches/programs of excellence in ASEAN, and the Philippine higher
education institutions both as study and tourist destinations to foreign students. This is
attained by bringing about greater people-to-people connectivity between students,
faculty, and staff in both local and international universities, communities, industries,
and National Government Agencies. In view of the core principle of glocalization of
education, taking advantage of the existing regional development efforts to integrate
local cultural, indigenous, and heritage products and practices within the wider global
context, the StudyPH projects support development plans and programs on the
convergence of academe, local government units, industry, small-medium enterprises,
communities, and other stakeholders. In this way, the StudyPH projects were categorized
through the following thematic areas:
● (CHM) Culture, Heritage, and Museums – preservation and appreciation of
participants and products of Philippine civilization;
● (AFF) Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishery – promotion and development of the
tourism potential of economic activities; and
● (ENR) Environment and Natural Resources – conservation and restoration of
ecological systems.

h. Developing Global Filipino Teachers Program

The Developing Global Filipino Teachers program is a collaboration between the

Commission on Higher Education, the Philippine higher education sector, and the
Philippine Embassy in Phnom Penh which seeks to pilot an education training program to
equip, capacitate and enhance competencies of Filipino teachers in Cambodia to qualify
them for better teaching career positions.

The project was established in 2019 because of the data showing that despite the Filipino
teachers’ outstanding performances and length of service, they still receive lower salaries
due to their lack of professional teaching licenses and qualifications. Thus, CHED
partnered with three (3) Philippine higher education institutions (PHEIs) that pledged to
deliver quality training and programs in different specialty areas. The program will be
expanded to other ASEAN member countries where Filipino English teachers are located.

i. Erasmus-funded Projects

ANTENA Project
The Internationalization of Higher Education in the Philippines Network (“ANTENA”)
Project is an endeavor led by the University of Alicante (UA) in Spain with the support of
the University of Montpelier (UM) in France and the European Foundation for Management
Development (EFMD) in Belgium. The Commission joins ten (10) Philippine universities in
the project, which aims to improve the academic quality and increase the research of
universities in the Philippines through the development of their internationalization
capacities.

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan
 This initiative also has the following specific objectives: consolidate the
internationalization structure and build human capacities of Philippine HEIs through a
targeted training programme in 10 select universities; and complement the existing
governance reforms of CHED and enhance international networking through strategic
actions in key areas of the Philippine higher education system.

Project FORTH

The “Formation of Teachers in Emerging Challenged Areas in the Philippines: A Model for
Global Use” (FORTH) Project aims to address the need of teacher formation in the
disadvantaged but emerging areas of the country. Planned activities are writing modules
and training of trainers; lab training sessions for training of practice teachers, training of
teacher trainers for selected public schools, offering of the course program Master of Arts
in Education major in Teaching in the Challenged Areas.

PATHWAYS Project
The main objective of the “Promoting the Employability and Entrepreneurship of higher
education graduates through innovative ways in the Philippines” (PATHWAY) Project is to
enhance the entrepreneurship and employability culture of higher education institutions
in the Philippines in order to meet labor market needs.

J. Mobility and Exchange Initiatives

AIMS Program

The Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS) Program is a flagship program of the
Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Institute of
Higher Education and Development (RIHED). It is a regional collaborative program that
provides a multilateral platform to promote and enhance student mobility. The
governments of member countries provide scholarships for students in selected
universities from their respective countries to study in a university in another member
country.

UMAP Program
The University Mobility in Asia and the Pacific (UMAP) is an association of government
and non-government representatives of the higher education sector that aims to
achieve enhanced international understanding through increased mobility of university
students and staff. UMAP plays a vital role in enhancing cross-border services and
promoting partnerships among higher education institutions in Asia and the Pacific.
Host institutions are expected to waive tuition fees for UMAP students studying on
Multilateral Exchange, Bilateral Exchange, and Super Short Term Programs. Credits for
studies undertaken during the exchange period can be transferred to the home
institution. The Philippines, through CHED, became a full member of UMAP in 2001.

6. Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Act of 2019

With the growing awareness and appreciation of Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) to
the essence of internationalization, the HEIs willingness to embark on this journey has also
increased. This is evident in the increase in the number of HEIs with Strategic Internationalization
Plans (SIPs) which are embedded in their vision, mission, and focus areas. This is also supported
by the fact that CHED assisted 107 Philippine HEIs and linked them to 1,493 HEIs abroad, in the
past several years.

As we move forward, deepening and diversifying linkages has become more imperative. Thus, the
enactment of R.A. 11448 or the “Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Act of 2019” has been a
most welcome development. The legislation ensures policy directives, manpower, and funding for

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan
 the country to actively encourage, promote, and accelerate the establishment of two key areas in
higher education: TNHE and internationalization.1

These initiatives will entail human and financial resources. This is why the Law has created a
TNHE Division - a new unit under the International Affairs Service (IAS) that will lead the TNHE
sector of the country. R.A. No. 11448 also ensured that there will be regular funding under the
government’s annual General Appropriations Act. The CHED successfully published the
Implementing Rules and Regulations of Transnational Higher Education Act (or RA 11448) on 21
April 2022. The IRR has already been in effect starting 06 May 2022.

All of these are anchored to the commitment of CHED to internationalize Philippine Higher
Education and develop it as the leader of Transnational Higher Education in the region.

7. Foreign Scholarships and Training Program (FSTP)

The Foreign Scholarship and Training Program (FSTP) is a component of the Official Development
Assistance to the Philippines by foreign donor countries. The objective is to enhance the
capabilities of institutions in accordance with the national development thrusts and strategies. It
consists of degree and non-degree short term courses.

Pursuant to Executive Order 402, the FSTP is administered by the Department of Education
(DepEd) for basic education, the Commission on Higher Education for degree courses, and the
Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for non-degree courses. Target
beneficiaries are officials and employees of government agencies, state universities and colleges,
private sector and accredited non-government organizations.

With all of these, the Philippines has the right ingredients for internationalizing Philippine Higher
Education.

1
Section 2 (par. 3), R.A. No. 11448, “Declaration of Policy”

Commission on Higher Education International Affairs Service

+63 2 8441-1260 +63 2 8441-0750
www.ched.gov.ph [email protected]
www.facebook.com/CHEDEdutourism Viber: +63 918 4116062
www.facebook.com/CHEDHiEdBayanihan