BAGUIO’S BIG 3 UNIVERSITIES GRANTED AUTONOMOUS STATUS BY CHED

September 29, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

The city’s top three universities have been granted a three year autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education this week. The Saint Louis University, University of Baguio and the University of the Cordilleras were among the 77 higher education institutions recognized by CHED for providing quality education. In CHED Memorandum Order No. 07, series of 2024 signed by commission chair Prospero de Vera III, the three universities were granted autonomous status from September 16, 2024 to September 15, 2027.

The same order granted deregulated status to some 17 HEIs also. The CHED took note of the three school’s “top-quality education and (have) consistently excellent program results,” and often have many accredited programs, and are recognized for leadership in education, thus the granting of autonomous status. The CHED thus grants them the most freedom to manage and innovate their academic programs. On the other hand, the 17 deregulated HEIs also meet the high standards and show “strong performance and good program results,” with several accredited programs and Centers of Excellence or Development.

Autonomous and deregulated HEIs are allowed to design their curriculum. They can also form linkages with recognized foreign HEIs. The CHED can also give priority in the grant of subsidies and other financial incentives or assistance. SLU, UB and UC can now enjoy exemption from the regular CHED monitoring and evaluation, as well as from the issuance of Special Order for their graduates for the next three years. The three, as well as the 74 other HEIS, that include the country’s top three universities Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas – can now enjoy the privilege to open new programs without securing prior CHED approval.

CHED in granting the autonomous status to the 77 learning institutions noted that they “represent the best of the best among our higher educational institutions.” “[They produce] world-class graduates and are included in international rankings. I urge other private universities to benchmark and emulate the programs and practices of these top universities,” de Vera said in a statement. In granting said status, the CHED conducted a comprehensive evaluation from 2019 to 2023 that focused on the educational effectiveness of the private HEIs. Said evaluation included student performance in professional board examinations, employability rates, and the alignment of curricula with industry demands.

“The new guidelines include global partnerships and international engagement with top universities all over the world. As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, CHED will ensure that Philippine HEIs remain competitive on both national and global scales,” De Vera added. Meanwhile, an SLU graduate was among the seven Social Work licensure passers who placed seventh in the recent board examination. Auvy Thez Dotimas was one of the seven examinees to earn an 85.80 grade to finish seventh in licensure exams topped by Sheena Mae Obispo of Bicol University – Daraga.

Pigeon Lobien/ABN