By Dr. Rex Casiple
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) celebrated its 29th Founding Anniversary last May 15-19, 2023. The highlight of the celebration was the 2nd CHED Regional Quality Awards Program conducted to recognize the efforts and initiatives of higher education institutions in the areas of instruction, research and community extension.
The Commission recognized performing local colleges, autonomous and deregulated higher education institutions (HEIs), 3 HEIs included in the QS World University Ranking, 5 HEIs included in the Top 100 Universities in the Philippines and top performing HEIs in the national level in various Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board examinations in the field of Engineering, Nursing, Medicine, Criminology, and Medical Technology.
Also, HEIs who performed well in research, extension services, and in internationalization were awarded. Likewise HEIs who were model implementers in various programs of the Commission, such as, in higher education management information system (HEMIS), student financial assistance program (StuFAP), unified financial assistance system for tertiary education (UniFAST), staff and instructor knowledge advancement program (SIKAP), student services, national service training program (NSTP), flexible learning, among others. Partner government agencies in various projects and linkages of this Commission were also recognized during the awarding ceremony.
Bago City College in Bago City was awarded Institutional Recognition.
The 5 HEIs awarded with autonomous status were University of St. La Salle, John B. Lacson Colleges Foundation-Bacolod, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Molo, John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University-Arevalo and Central Philippine University.
The 2 HEIs awarded deregulated status were University of San Agustin and Filamer Christian University.
The 13 HEIs awarded with outstanding performances in the recent PRC Board Examinations were UP-Visayas (4th in May 2022 Chemical Engineers Licensure Examination); Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (4th in November 2022 Civil Engineers Licensure Examination); West Visayas State University (1st in the November 2022 Nurse Licensure Examination with 100% passing); University of St. La Salle (5th in the November 2022 Nurse Licensure Examination); St. Paul University Iloilo (6th in the November 2022 Nurse Licensure Examination); Central Philippine University (9th in the November 2022 Nurse Licensure Examination); West Visayas State University (8th in the October 2022 Physician Licensure Examination); University of Iloilo (3rd in the December 2022 Licensure Examination for Criminologist); ISAT University (2nd in the February 2023 Mechanical Engineers Licensure Examination); TUP Visayas (1st in the April 2023 Electronic Technician Licensure Examination); and Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology (6th in the April 2023 Licensure Examination for Midwives).
The 3 HEIs in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings were Central Philippine University, West Visayas State University, and ISAT University.
The 5 HEIs included in the EDURANK Top 100 Universities in the Philippines were UP-Visayas (Rank #17), West Visayas State University (Rank #46), Central Philippine University (Rank#61), John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University (Rank #71) and University of Iloilo (Rank#83). (To be continued)
