March 10, 2026

CLARK CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) opened the Higher Education Summit (HES) 2026 on March 10, convening leaders from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) nationwide. The opening of the summit was graced by Representative Jude A. Acidre, Chair of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education (CHTE), highlighting holistic dialogue on curriculum relevance, science-driven human capital strategies, and cross-sector partnerships.

Anchored on the theme “ACHIEVING Sustainable Futures: Transformative Higher Education for Human Capital, Innovation, and Global Responsibility,” the summit underscores the pivotal role of higher education in advancing sustainable development, deepening industry relevance, and elevating global engagement.

The three-day event reflects the Commission’s strengthened collaboration with partner agencies, recognizing that educational quality, research excellence, and technological innovation are interdependent drivers of national progress in a knowledge-based global economy. Through policy briefings, thematic discussions, and sector-wide dialogues, higher education leaders explored actionable initiatives that advance the CHED ACHIEVE Agenda’s strategic pillars, nurture innovation ecosystems, and enhance the global competitiveness of Philippine higher education.

“The Higher Education Summit brings together the entire higher education system to reflect on the challenges before us and to explore how, together, we can strengthen Philippine higher education in a rapidly changing world,” said CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis.

Participating institutions also explored partnerships in research, faculty development, innovation ecosystems, and community-engaged initiatives that support the operationalization of the ACHIEVE Agenda across the higher education sector. The event further facilitates collaboration among CHED and participating institutions to generate evidence-informed policies and institutional commitments aligned with national development priorities, industry demands, innovation-driven human capital formation, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDG).

Ultimately, the summit stands as a powerful affirmation of CHED’s commitment to building a collaborative, future‑ready higher education ecosystem—one that empowers Filipino learners to excel in a rapidly evolving world and to contribute meaningfully to national progress and sustainable futures.