CHED taps ISUFST to lead Region VI micro-credential push

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The Commission on Higher Education invited the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology on Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, to present its best practices on micro-credentials and creative works and to co-host two CHED-funded two-day seminar-workshops for higher education institutions in Region VI and the Negros Island Region, with a late-October workshop on Creative Works and a mid-December workshop on Micro-credentials set at the CHED Regional Office VI in La Paz, Iloilo City.

“Do this first. You will be the benchmark in micro-credentials in Region VI,” said Raul Alvarez during the meeting.

Dr. Danebeth Narzoles, CHED Region VI chief education program specialist, added that ISUFST “has a lot to share with colleges and universities in Region VI and NIR (Negros Island Region)” on both MC and CW, noting the university’s ability to “cross boundaries and set trends aligned with the thrusts of CHED leadership.”

The ISUFST team was led by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Joan Belga and included University Creative Works Office Director Michle Celeste, School of Graduate Studies Director Dr. Stephen Raymund Jinon, Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Director Dr. Jaspare Barrido, College of Computer Studies Dean Dr. Wenda Panes, and Public Affairs, Marketing, and Media Communications Office Director Dr. Herman Lagon, with Jinon and Celeste presenting ISUFST’s workshop proposals and Lagon and Panes sharing micro-credential templates on “Psychological First Aid in the Educational Settings” and “IoT4STE (Internet of Things for Science, Technology and Engineering) Educators.”

“Our experts are ready to take on this challenge set by President Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr. Micro-credentials help us respond to industry needs, while creative works affirm the role of the arts and humanities in enriching our research agenda and supporting academic excellence,” she said.

“We appreciate CHED’s trust. We will work with partners across the region to ensure these workshops are practical, inclusive, and aligned with their own institutional goals,” ISUFST President Dr. Nordy Siason said.

Micro-credentials are short, skills-focused credentials that certify specific competencies valued by employers while creative works recognize scholarly outputs in the arts and humanities that contribute to institutional research, extension, and cultural agendas.

According to CHED and ISUFST, the two events will gather policymakers and program leads from schools across eight Visayas provinces to refine policies, identify priority offerings, and share working models while ISUFST will also help invite field experts to strengthen the technical grounding of sessions and broaden participation.

The three-hour coordination meeting finalized timelines, roles, and expected outputs, and the collaboration supports UN SDG 4 on quality education through flexible learning pathways and SDG 17 on partnerships by convening institutions to co-develop responsive programs for students and communities. (Stephen Raymund Jinon/Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)