Qualified universities allowed to reopen programs on 3 courses

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has allowed qualified colleges and universities to reopen undergraduate and graduate programs in business administration (BA), hotel and restaurant management (HRM), and information technology (IT) beginning school year 2015-2016.

CHED recently lifted the moratorium on the opening programs for the three courses, citing the continuous recruitment and hiring of graduates in these programs by the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, tourism and IT industries, both here and abroad.

CHED also considered the “market uptrend and leadership position of the Philippines in the IT-BPO sector, regional and global increase in labor mobility, emergence of new demand for competencies such as business analytics, and international agreements on borderless economy.”

The higher education institutions (HEIs) that plan to offer the courses must have the following qualifications: autonomous or deregulated status for private institutions and SUC Level III status for state universities and colleges, a Center of Excellence or Center of Development in the program to be offered, and at least Level II accredited status in any of the following programs from CHED recognized accrediting agencies.

“HEIs that intend to operate these programs and possess any of these requirements shall file their application with the CHED regional offices,” the CHED said.

In October 2010, CHED has imposed a moratorium on the opening of new course programs in BA, HRM, IT, nursing, and teacher education.

The body has not lifted its moratorium against offering new programs in nursing and teacher education.

The moratorium stopped colleges and universities throughout the country from opening the courses in their respective schools to prevent a worsening “oversupply” of graduates in those fields.