CHED, ISUFST TO LAUNCH JOINT MICRO-CREDENTIALS WORKSHOP FOR WV, NIR TO STRENGTHEN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF HEIS

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Offices VI and XVIII, in collaboration with the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), are set to hold a two-day Seminar-Workshop on Micro-Credentials for Academic Advancement on December 12–13, 2025 at Northwest Inn, Bacolod City, gathering educators and experts from Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region to align Philippine higher education with global standards.

With the theme “Strengthening Higher Education with a Global Perspective,” the workshop responds to CHED’s mandate to promote equitable, industry-aligned, and globally competitive higher education systems. The program underscores CHED’s vision for “locally responsive, innovative, and globally competitive graduates and lifelong learners.”

Microcredentials, simply put, are small but powerful learning badges—short, focused programs that certify specific skills needed in today’s workplace.

Unlike traditional degrees that take years to complete, microcredentials let learners upskill one module at a time, collect digital badges, and even stack them toward larger qualifications. For many students and professionals, these credentials provide a flexible growth path, proving to employers what they can do—not just what they studied.

ISUFST serves as co-organizer and technical lead, with CHED Regional Director Dr. Raul Alvarez set to deliver the opening message and articulate how micro-credentials expand opportunities for learners while supporting lifelong education.

The first session, to be led by microcredentials expert Dr. Greg Pawilen, will provide a deep dive into global perspectives and evolving models for stackable credentials.

In contrast, the second session, to be facilitated by ISUFST Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan M. Belga, will present ISUFST’s journey toward building its own micro-credential ecosystem.

In the afternoon, ISUFST will showcase its pioneering role through “ISUFST’s Journey Toward Building Micro-Credential Ecosystems” and discussions on institutionalizing CHED Memorandum Order No. 1 s. 2025.

ISUFST resource speakers Dr. Stephen Raymund Jinon, Dr. Wenda Panes, and Dr. Herman Lagon will facilitate the sessions spanning policy, technology-driven design, and psychological first aid micro-certifications.

On Day 2, CHED technical committee members and regional experts, together with the ISUFST MC Team, will guide HEIs through a “Design Lab: Critiquing and Enhancing Micro-Credential Proposals,” ensuring alignment to national standards while encouraging innovation tailored to local industries.

A commitment ceremony will cap the program, where participating HEIs from Regions VI and XVIII will sign the “Micro-Credentials for the Future Pledge,” vowing unity in empowering lifelong learners and advancing competency-based education.

As CHED and ISUFST roll out micro-credentials—after their successful Creative Works collaboration last October, 2025—they are responding to a truth educators and employers have long understood: learning does not stop at the classroom door.

This initiative honors real skills, real experience, and real ambitions, allowing Filipino talent to adapt to a world that constantly evolves. (PAMMCO)