The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) granted autonomous and deregulated status to 92 private higher education institutions (PHEIs).
The said institutions will enjoy this privilege until September 2027, the CHED said.
A comprehensive evaluation was conducted by CHED for the period 2019-2023 focusing on the educational effectiveness of the PHEIs including 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,” CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera said.
HEIs with autonomous status have top-quality education and consistently excellent program results. They often have many accredited programs and are recognized for education leadership. CHED gives them the most freedom to manage and innovate their academic programs.
Deregulated PHEIs also meet high standards and show strong performance and good program results, with several accredited programs and Centers of Excellence or Development.
Both autonomous and deregulated PHEIs have significant freedom to design their curriculum; establish linkages with recognized foreign HEIs; priority in the grant of subsidies and other financial incentives or assistance from CHED; are exempted from regular CHED monitoring and evaluation; and exempted from the issuance of Special Order for their graduates. Specifically for autonomous HEIs, they have the privilege to open new programs without securing prior CHED approval.
“The 77 autonomous private universities represent the best of the best among our higher educational institutions, producing 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.
