28 March 2025
More Filipinos can now break into the global creative industry with the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) approval of a groundbreaking transnational higher education (TNHE) partnership between the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), offering a dual-degree program that will elevate local talent to the global stage.
This collaboration paves the way for students to earn two prestigious degrees—the BA (Hons) in Design (Product Design) from PolyU and the Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Industrial Design from UST—all within four years.
The CHED’s approval of this program was done under Republic Act No. 11448 (Transnational Higher Education Act), this program provides Filipino students with world-class education right at their doorstep.
“One of the directives of President Bongbong Marcos is to expand the access of Filipinos to international education opportunities through the TNHE law. Hence, we are actively assisting Philippine HEIs to secure partnership with universities abroad to ensure that they produce globally competitive graduates,” CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera said.
“Creative industry is one of the major sectors that the President has instructed us to develop. Hence, we encourage our HEIs to collaborate with local and international institutions to build a world-class workforce in the creative industry. I commend UST for responding to the calls of the government,” De Vera added.
“By embracing transnational education, this joint program with PolyU empowers our students to become globally competitive designers,” said UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, OP, Ph.D. “It connects them with international experts, cutting-edge resources, and real-world industry collaborations, giving them a powerful edge in the creative sector.”
Ranked 57th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and 84th in the 2025 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, PolyU is a global leader in design education. Its School of Design has been shaping creative minds since 1964, consistently ranking among the world’s best for Art and Design.
With this partnership, students will gain exposure to PolyU’s cutting-edge curriculum, industry-driven projects, and international design networks—without leaving the Philippines.
This program is more than just a dual degree—it’s a launchpad for Filipino designers to break into the global creative industry. Graduates will be equipped with international perspectives, cross-cultural competencies, and hands-on experience that set them apart in the competitive design landscape.
The UST-PolyU program joins a growing list of CHED-approved transnational education initiatives, such as:
-Far Eastern University & Jerudong Park Medical Centre (Brunei): BS Nursing and Science Foundation program.
-Asian Institute of Management & University of Houston: Double degree in Data Science & Business Administration.
-Mapúa University & Arizona State University: TNHE programs across various disciplines.
With this milestone collaboration, UST and PolyU are championing a future where Filipino creativity thrives on the world stage.
(SIGNED)
J. PROSPERO E. DE VERA III
CHED Secretary