Highlighting the key role of higher education in society, industry, and global competitiveness of the country.
On March 10, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)’s Higher Education Summit (HES) 2026 was opened.
Through the summit, leaders from state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), and private higher education institutions (PHEIs) nationwide joined forces.
Anchored on the theme “ACHIEVING Sustainable Futures: Transformative Higher Education for Human Capital, Innovation, and Global Responsibility,” the summit underscored the pivotal role of higher education in three areas.
These are in advancing sustainable development, deepening industry relevance, and elevating global engagement.
Representative Jude Acidre, Chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE), was at the event, where he highlighted the importance of holistic dialogue on curriculum relevance, science-driven human capital strategies, and cross-sector partnerships.
According to CHED, the three-day event also reflected its strengthened collaboration with partner agencies, as well as recognized that educational quality, research excellence, and technological innovation are “interdependent drivers of national progress in a knowledge-based global economy.”
In the summit, there were policy briefings, thematic discussions, and sector-wide dialogues.
Tertiary education leaders also explored actionable initiatives that will further the pillar of CHED’s ACHIEVE Agenda, with the commission stating that it will nurture innovation ecosystems, and enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine higher education.
Moreover, participating institutions also explored partnerships in research, faculty development, innovation ecosystems, and community-engaged initiatives that support the operationalization of the ACHIEVE Agenda across the higher education sector.
Meanwhile, it was also crucial in further facilitating collaboration among CHED and participating institutions, where they are able to generate “evidence-informed policies and institutional commitments.”
These, the commission said, are aligned with national development priorities, industry demands, innovation-driven human capital formation, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG).
“Ultimately, the summit stands as a powerful affirmation of CHED’s commitment to building a collaborative, future‑ready higher education ecosystem—one that empowers Filipino learners to excel in a rapidly evolving world and to contribute meaningfully to national progress and sustainable futures,” CHED told in its press statement.
Meanwhile, for her part, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis noted, “The Higher Education Summit brings together the entire higher education system to reflect on the challenges before us and to explore how, together, we can strengthen Philippine higher education in a rapidly changing world.”
