📋 Tender Overview
Commission on Higher Education (CHED-7) Regional Director Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal discussing CHEDs ACHIEVE agenda, which aims to address its current challenges. (PIA7) CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 7 is urging stronger collaboration among government agencies to implement and achieve its seven-point reform agenda known as ACHIEVE. CHED-7 Regional Director Maura Consolacion D. Cristobal presented the agenda during the general assembly of the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7), where she outlined challenges confronting the sector and the reforms needed to address them. Cristobal identified key gaps in the higher education system, including a fragmented structure, the absence of a nationally coordinated human capital development framework, underutilized research expertise among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), lack of a centralized data system, weak internationalization practices, an outdated organizational setup, and the absence of a stakeholder feedback mechanism. She noted that CHEDs manpower has not grown since 1994, despite the steady increase in the number of HEIs under its jurisdiction. You may not believe it, but from 1994 until now, we still have the same manpower complement despite the increase in the number of HEIs in our jurisdiction, Cristobal said. To address these challenges, Cristobal outlined the ACHIEVE reform agenda, which stands for: Advanced and accessible lifelong learning; Centralized one-nation human capital development plan; Harmonized SDG-based higher education research and innovation agenda; Integrated real-time data collection and analytics system; Expanded and impact-driven internationalization strategies; Vitalized policies, internal systems, and governance; and Effective and efficient public service. The ACHIEVE agenda is a five-year plan (2025-2030) that sets the strategic priorities for HEIs, aligning them with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s medium-term socioeconomic agenda and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). It focuses on flexible learning, upskilling, workforce alignment, graduate employability, and responsive research and extension programs. One of the key issues the agenda seeks to address is to reduce the persistent skills mismatch in the country. Cristobal emphasized that CHED will need support from other agencies to successfully carry out the agenda and address long-standing challenges. Actually, marami kayong kinalaman dito (you have a lot to do with this) because we will be needing the assistance of everyone in the implementation of this ACHIEVE agenda, Cristobal said. Higher education in Central Visayas With the creation of the Negros Island Region, CHED-7 now oversees HEIs only in Cebu and Bohol, with a combined total of 139 institutions. Cebu hosts two State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) with 15 campuses, as well as two SUCs whose main campuses are located outside the region. The province also has 82 private HEIs and seven local universities and colleges. Meanwhile, Bohol has one SUC with six campuses, 17 private HEIs, and 10 local universities and colleges. In total, we have 17 local community colleges in Region 7, three main SUC campuses with 21 satellite external campuses, and 99 private HEIs, Cristobal said, excluding the two SUCs outside the region: the Philippine State College of Aeronautics and the University of the Philippines-Cebu. She also highlighted three newly established institutions: the Asian College of Technology International Education Foundation, Inc. - Pit-os Campus, National University Incorporated, and the University of San Jose-Recoletos - Balamban Campus. (JJT/PIA7)
