Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced that the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and UP Los Ba±os (UPLB) have been exempted from its certificate of program compliance (COPC) requirement. This exemption is attributed to their outstanding performance in implementing quality assurance systems.
According to Philippines News Agency, a COPC is essential for higher education institutions (HEIs) to ensure that graduates meet the standards necessary for licensure examinations. This involves hiring qualified teachers, maintaining adequate laboratories, and updating curricula to prepare students for both national and international standards in the workplace.
The exemption was granted shortly after CHED reinforced its quality assurance mechanisms among state universities and colleges (SUCs) in partnership with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), following a joint circular signed on March 5. CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III praised UP Manila and UPLB for setting a benchmark in quality assurance.
The programs at UP Manila exempted from COPC include Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, and various bachelor’s degrees in fields such as Biochemistry, Nursing, and Public Health. At UPLB, exempted programs cover degrees in Agriculture, Chemical Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine, among others.
Both institutions have obtained national, regional, and international quality assurance certifications to maintain high standards. UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee highlighted the importance of these certifications in aligning with global standards.
CHED previously stated that securing COPC is a basic compliance requirement, urging SUCs to pursue regional and international accreditations. Other HEIs must secure COPC by September, or their programs will be considered ‘non-existent’ by PRC.
De Vera also emphasized the potential legacy of enhanced higher education quality under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration. He noted ongoing efforts to improve teaching quality, faculty credentials, and university research. Additionally, plans are underway to offer more international scholarship opportunities and upskill faculty members, with collaborations in food technology and animation courses.
In terms of internationalization, CHED aims to increase the number of globally-ranked Philippine HEIs significantly by 2028. Currently, 87 Philippine HEIs are recognized in global rankings, a marked increase from previous years.
