Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has recognized five higher education institutions (HEIs) as new providers of micro-credential courses to advance upskilling and reskilling opportunities in the country. Micro-credentials are 'short and focused learning courses' designed to develop and certify particular knowledge, skills, values, and competencies.
According to Philippines News Agency, this initiative offers learners the flexibility to build competencies through credit or stackable, and non-credit or non-stackable approaches, subject to quality standards and alignment with the Philippine Qualifications Framework. 'By expanding access to shorter, targeted learning options, micro-credentials can help students build additional competencies alongside their degree programs and allow workers to upskill or reskill as industry needs change,' the commission stated in a statement released on Tuesday night.
The newly recognized HEIs include St. Scholastica's College Manila, World Citi Colleges, University of the Visayas, Saint Tonis College, Inc., and Brokenshire College, Inc. These institutions were evaluated by CHED's Office of Programs and Standards Development and the Technical Working Group on Lifelong Learning, ensuring compliance with the required documentary and micro-credential requirements.
Specifically, Saint Tonis College, Inc. has been granted recognition to offer 22 micro-credentials, covering short courses in information technology, programming, hospitality, culinary arts, teaching and learning, and professional skills. World Citi Colleges is allowed to provide twelve micro-credentials in areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, e-commerce, and workplace communication.
Meanwhile, the University of the Visayas has been approved to offer 10 micro-credentials in application and use cases, data analytics, data engineering, data science, machine learning, and platform administration. St. Scholastica's College Manila may offer six micro-credentials in tourism, hospitality, events management, recreation, food entrepreneurship, and culinary sustainability.
Brokenshire College, Inc. received approval to offer five micro-credentials focused on cultural and literacy appreciation and specialized healthcare competencies, including phlebotomy and malarial microscopy. These course offerings are designed to meet workforce demand in sectors such as cybersecurity, data analytics, hospitality, tourism, entrepreneurship, healthcare, and education.
The accreditation for these five HEIs to offer micro-credentials is valid for three years. As a result, the total number of recognized HEIs for micro-credential offerings has now reached 12.
