The Philippines is setting its sights on the United Kingdom’s education framework as a benchmark to overhaul its transnational education strategy across the country and the wider ASEAN region.
Commission on Higher Education Reveals Transnational Initiative
The Commission on Higher Education revealed the initiative during a closed-door gathering with international education leaders in Manila, coinciding with the UK-ASEAN higher education week themed Advancing ASEAN-UK collaboration in higher education.
Chairperson Shirley Agrupis pointed to the necessity of looking outward for institutional design.
PH eyes UK framework for transnational education strategy in ASEAN MANILA – The Philippines seeks to advance transnational education strategy for the country and across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, with the education framework of the United Kingdom… pic.twitter.com/oTVNX7rOH6
Napakahalaga ng benchmarking because ‘yung pag-develop natin ng (Benchmarking is important for the development of our) transnational education partnership with the UK, we learned how they aligned their quality assurance with the needs of the workforce,
Chairperson Shirley Agrupis
To make the cross-border system work, CHED is focusing first on regulatory compatibility. Officials intend to establish mutual recognition of academic credits so that qualifications transfer easily between universities in different nations. Priority program alignment will target fields identified by the second Congressional Commission on Education, including agriculture, fisheries, health, digital transformation, and digital literacy. These collaborative efforts aim to boost student mobility, faculty exchanges, and joint research.
Government Prioritizes Joint Degrees over Branch Campuses
The new transnational education strategy spans 2027 to 2030, signaling a clear ambition to position the Philippines as a primary destination for international university partnerships. Rather than pursuing a rapid expansion of standalone foreign branch campuses like some neighboring markets in South-East Asia, the government is prioritizing joint degrees, co-designed curricula, and research collaborations.
WATCH: The Philippines is looking to benchmark the United Kingdom’s quality assurance framework to strengthen its transnational education strategy and foster closer academic ties with UK and ASEAN universities. During the UK-ASEAN Higher Education Week on Tuesday (Nov. 3, 2026),… pic.twitter.com/fhAgZKWhwW
Alongside academic frameworks, the government is expediting the rollout of Education Philippines, known as EduPhil. Established under Executive Order 124, the initiative relies on a single-digital platform designed to unify visa processing across multiple agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bureau of Immigration, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology. Currently, the program’s implementing rules and regulations are being finalized by the EduPhil Task Force, which is headed by CHED alongside other government instrumentalities. With the contribution of the British Council, CHED is set to launch the Philippine Transnational Higher Education Strategy on Wednesday.
Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the goal of EduPhil is to increase the number of inbound students in the Philippines to strengthen the country’s EduTourism.
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Shirley Agrupis and Commissioner Michelle Aguilar-Ong answer reporters' questions during a press conference at The Peninsula Manila in Makati City on Wednesday (Nov. 4, 2026), held as part of ASEAN-UK Higher Education Week 2026.… pic.twitter.com/dNQaW3KRtE
Our goal here in CHED is to really take advantage of our transnational education to massify our advanced degrees in our priority programs, especially in graduate programs.
Chairperson Shirley Agrupis
CHED plans to conduct consultations with the Education Malaysia Global Service to explore their practices in working with a model platform before finalizing the implementing rules and regulations for the program.
Asian Markets Face Student Housing Capacity Shortages
The country’s push arrives as other Asian markets grapple with the logistical pressures of expanding international education. At the same time, official data from the South Korean government reveal that campus housing capacity for foreign scholars fell from 23.8% in 2024 down to 20.3% by 2025. In Hong Kong, property consultancy JLL projects a potential shortfall of 147,200 student beds by the end of the decade, prompting local hostel conversion schemes.
WATCH: Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Shirley Agrupis underscores the need to further strengthen collaboration between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Kingdom, as well as the advancement of transnational higher education, in a… pic.twitter.com/6ZXNew1GwG
While analysts note that the Philippines’ current emphasis on collaborative programs rather than massive physical branch campuses may limit immediate large-scale demands for new student housing, an influx of inbound students will eventually test local infrastructure. HE Helen Fazey, who serves as the UK Mission to ASEAN Ambassador, expressed a commitment to maintaining ongoing backing and enduring partnerships with member nations in the region.
PANOORIN | Pinalalakas ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sa isinasagawang ASEAN-UK Higher Education Week 2026 sa Makati City ang pagpapatupad ng Republic Act 11448 o Transnational Higher Education Act sa pamamagitan ng isang pambansang estratehiya na magsisilbing roadmap… pic.twitter.com/dY3m3sgOvd
