CHEDLinkThe Official Newsletter of the Commission on Higher Education

Vol. 3 No. 1 July 2008

PGMA launches StudentAssistance Fund for Education

CHED, IUPAC conveneChemical Education

ConferenceA two-day conference titled

“Improving Chemical Educationin the Philippines” was held at theUniversity of Santo Tomas inManila on April 17-18, 2008.

A project of the Interna-tional Union of Pure and AppliedChemistry (IUPAC) FlyingChemists Program, theconference was organized byCHED in cooperation with USTand the Kapisanang Kimika ngPilipinas (Chemical Society of thePhilippines).

The conference served asa venue to train and updatefaculty on teachingmethodologies applicable to therevised CHED policies andstandards on the BS Chemistryprogram. The revised curriculumfocuses on upgrading the coursedelivery methods employed bychemistry teachers in thePhilippines.

A total of 324 tertiary-levelchemistry teachers attended the

chemical education/p 7

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (4th from R) awards the cheque torepresentatives of Bulacan State University during the launching of the SAFE Project.Also in photo are Presidential Adviser for Education, Dr. Mona Valisno (L), andCHED Chairman Romulo Neri (3rd from L).

PGMA launches /p 7

Students from various schools attend the launching of SAFE.

Inside . . . .

√ 1st IP & Technology Commercialization Conference√ Student Leaders Congress√ GMA Job Center Project√ “STW 39” International Meeting√ CHED Management Development Programs

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo approved the release ofP500M for the Student AssistanceFund for Education (SAFE) program,which was launched through CHEDon June 5, 2008 at the Eulogio“Amang” Rodriguez Institute of

Science and Technology , Manila.

During the launching,PGMA and Chairman Neriawarded P300,000 each to the firstbatch of partner HEIs composed of

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The CHED and theIntellectual Property Office of thePhilippines (IP Philippines)convened the 1st NationalConference on IP and TechnologyCommercialization for SUCs at theRenaissance Hotel in Makati Cityon May 21 and 22, 2008.

The two-day event wasattended by 200 delegates fromstate universities and colleges(SUCs). The activity focused on thelocal and international perspectivesof IP and technologycommercialization and the differentstrategies to commercialize IP assetsin academic institutions.

International experts fromthe World Intellectual PropertyOrganization, United States Patentand Trademark Office andEuropean Patent Office presentedthe international perspectives of IPprotection and commercialization,highlighting the economic value of IPand the vital role of academic

institutions in generating technologies.Commissioner Nenalyn

Defensor and Atty. Carmelita Sisonrepresented CHED and discussed theexperiences of academic institutions inimplementing IP policies. They alsoemphasized the role of public andprivate sectors in IP commercializationin terms of policies, programs andlegislation.

IP Philippines, CHED spearhead 1st IPand Tech Comm Conference

In partnership with theOffice of External Affairs – Officeof the President of the Philippinesand the Confederation of StudentGovernance of the Philippines(CSGP), the CHED conducted thefirst National Capital Region (NCR)Student Leaders’ Congress inMarikina City on June 26-27, 2008.

The Congress with thetheme “Youth Leadership TowardsUnity and Service” was attended by200 presidents and officers ofStudent Councils of various highereducation institutions in the NCR aswell as participants from other

1st NCR Student Leaders Congress heldConsciousness, English Proficiencyand Student Communication Skills,and Good Governance.

The student leaders voicedout their concerns, shared their planson how to improve the country, andtalked about how they envision ityears from now.

Richard Alvin M. Nalupta,Chairman of the National YouthCommission (NYC) discussedyouth leadership and developmentand encouraged students to be anactive part of NYC.

government agencies and privateorganizations.

Among the speakers wereProfessor Eric Lim of theEntrepreneurs School of Asia, YouthDesk Officer Ma. Magnolia Q.Danganan, Department ofEnvironment and Natural ResourcesExecutive Director Bayani C. Lagacand Antonio I. Havana, Office ofExternal Affairs – Office of thePresident and Marikina Mayor MariaLourdes C. Fernando.

The topics discussed includeYouth Entrepreneurship,Environmental Protection and

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The conference is part ofCHED and IP Philippines’ initiativeto enhance the capacity of public andprivate universities and colleges inusing IP assets to increaseinvestments and generateemployment opportunities.

(L-R) Mr. Jared Nyagua, World Intellectual Property Organization, Mr. NicholasKornig, European Patent Office, IP Director General Adrian Cristobal Jr. and Atty.Carmelita Yadao, CHED-Legal Services Director discuss IP concerns and issuesduring the presscon in Makati City.

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CHED Biofuel Project: The VSU ModelThe CHED allotted P50-M

for the Biofuel Research andEnterprise Development Project of17 State Universities and Colleges(SUCs). This is in response to theBiofuel Act of 2006 which sets thegroundwork for continued researchand extensive efforts on alternativefuels.

The project aims to establishJatropha (locally known as tuba-tuba) plantation and nurseries in

selected SUCs in the country. It hasthree components which will ensuresustainability of the enterprise beyondthe life of the project: 1) Researchand development to improve thecurrent body of knowledge onJathropa and its by-products; 2)demonstration of the viability ofJathropa nurseries in five pilot SUCs;and 3) extension activities forcommunity involvement in Jathropaproduction and processing.

The VisayasState University(VSU) in Leyte wasone of the 17 SUCs

The CHED co-sponsoredwith UST and the KapisanangKimika ng Pilipinas (ChemicalSociety of the Philippines), the 10thEurasia Conference on ChemicalSciences (EuAsC2S-10) onJanuary 7-11, 2008 at the PhilippineInternational Convention Center,Pasay City.

The activity is a bi-annualconference held in developingcountries which aims to bringtogether distinguished scientists toinspire the development of high levelscience in such countries throughinteraction and collaboration.

The EuAsC2S-10 was acombination of plenary lectures, aNobel Forum, mini-symposia,technical presentations, postersessions, an education forum and atechnology fair.

CHED co-sponsors InternationalChemistry confab

Among the plenary lecturerswere four Nobel laureates - AaronCiechanover, Yuan Tseh Lee, HartmutMichel and Ryoji Noyori and eminentscientists Baldomero Olivera, MichelVerdaguer, Susumu Kitagawa andCynthia Goh. Members of theTechnical Panel for Science andMathematics, namely, Elma Llaguno,

Fabian Dayrit and Irene Villasenor,were among the members of thePhilippine Advisory Board andNational Organizing Committee.

The CHED supported thePhilippine delegates during the 9thEuAsC2S at Antalya, Turkey inSeptember 2006 to bid the hostingof the 10th EuAsC2S.

who received Biofuel Project fundfrom CHED-HEDF.

The VSU led by its projectcoordinator, Dr. Roberto C.Guarte, developed a technologypackage composed of the rightcombination of soil mixture, properplanting procedures and best varietyseedlings through extensiveresearch and experimentation.

In April 2008, the VSUestablished a permanent nurseryfacility which could accommodatearound 26,000 Jathropa seedlingsin one planting season. Jathropaplantations were also established inVillaba and Isabel campuses inLeyte. The VSU is currently testingbiodiesel using the institution’svehicles.

Shown in photo are EuAsC2S-10 conference delegates (L-R) Mr. Fabian Dayrit, PhilippineAdvisory Board member, Nobel laureates Mr. Aaron Ciechanover and Mr. Hartmut Michel;Philippine delegates Mr. Lucio Tan and Ms. Evelyn May Mendoza, Nobel laureate Mr. RyojiNoyori and Mr. Yuan Tseh Lee , and Ms. Elma Llaguno, Philippine Advisory Board member.

Permanent JathropaNursery Facility inVisayas State Universityin Leyte.

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The The Commission on Higher Education issuedCHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 37, series of2008 – Policies and Standards in the Implementationof the Electronic Verification and CertificationSystem (EVCS) of Academic Records.

The EVCS aims to systematize the managementof academic records to facilitate the electronicprocessing and issuance of Special Order (S.O.) andCertification, Authentication and Verification (CAV)documents. The EVCS shall be the prescribed systemto be used by CHED and HEIs in the processing andissuance of SOs and CAVs.

The EVCS database can be used by the CHED-Regional Offices in accessing academic records ofgrantees of CHED’s Student Financial AssistancePrograms (STUFAPs). The EVCS shall also addressthe requirements for verification and authenticationpurposes and other regulatory activities of governmentagencies such as the Professional RegulationsCommission and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The system will provide data from all public andprivate HEIs including – Enrollment List and Summaryof Courses Taken; Verification and Issuance of Student’sCAV-Units Earned and CAV-Degree Earned;Application and Issuance of SO; Collection andConsolidation of Students and Graduates Data. Thesystem will also provide the DFA electronic access tothe data for verifying CAV issued by CHEDROs andCHED-Office of the Student Services.

The implementation of the EVCS will start inAY 2008-2009.

CHED issues policiesand guidelines on EVCS

Dir. Enrique Grecia (L), Vice-Chairman of the EVCS TechnicalWorking Group (TWG) is shown discussing EVCS issues with NCRDir. Amelia Biglete, EVCS TWG Chairman and CHEDRO IV-ADir. Isabel Inlayo. Pictures below: Representatives from HEIs attendthe public hearing and orientation on CMO 37 series of 2008.

At the PUP, Sta. Mesa, Manilaon July 18, 2008

In Baguio City on July 25, 2008

In Cebu City on July 4, 2008

In Cagayan de Oro Cityon July 11, 2008

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The Department of Laborand Employment (DOLE), TechnicalEducation and Skills DevelopmentAuthority (TESDA) and CHEDlaunched the Greater ModularAccess Job Center kiosks (GMAJob Center) on April 2, 2008.

The kiosk, a touch screenInternet-enabled machine, is the firstinformation machine containingavailable jobs, both local and abroad,and other relevant information andservices for jobseekers.

The machine providesinformation on CHED accreditedhigher education institutions andprograms, CHED Centers of

DOLE, TESDA and CHED launchGMA Job Center Kiosks

TPITE finalizes PSG for IT graduate programs

The Technical Panel for IT,headed by Dr. EleazarAlbacea (4th from L)reviews the final draft ofthe PSG.

The Technical Panel forInformation Technology Education(TPITE) finalized the policies,standards and guidelines (PSGs) forthe Information Technology (IT)graduate programs last April 4.

The Technical Panel headedby Dr. Eleazer Albacea together withthe members of the TechnicalCommittee on Curriculum, reviewedthe final draft of PSGs for Master ofScience in Computer Science(MSCS), Doctor of Philosophy inComputer Science (PhDCS), Masterof Information Technology (MIT),

Doctorate in Information Technology(DIT) and Master of InformationSystems (MIS) prior to endorsementto the Commission for approval. Thenew graduate programs shall beimplemented effective 1st semester ofAY 2009-2010.

The Computer Scienceprograms were revised to be moreresearch oriented with emphasis onconcepts for designing new systemsand applications and generating newknowledge in the field, while MIT andMIS are project and industry-based

oriented programs. The DIT focuseson industry research with acombination of doctoral level coursework. One of the new requirementsfor the applicant HEI for this programis to have faculty and studentimmersion programs with the ITindustry in the conduct of researchor IT project development apart fromthe industry-academe linkage for on-the-job training of students andplacement of graduates.

E x c e l l e n c e /Development, TESDAaccredited schools andprograms and PRCservices. CHED’spartner agencies mayeasily update informationsuch as institutions withaccredited programs,Standards of Training, Certificationand Watchkeeping (STCW)compliant maritime HEIs, and otherdata through the kiosks.

More GMA Job Centerkiosks were opened in 100 sitesnationwide in May 2008.

A GMA Job Center Kioskis located at the CHED,C.P. Garcia Avenue, UPDiliman, Quezon City. Thisis a touch screen Internet-enabled machine contain-ing available jobs, bothlocal and abroad, andrelevant services forjobseekers.

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CHED CommissionerNona Ricafort and DirectorHeracleo Lagrada attended the 39thmeeting of the Sub-Committee onStandards of Training andWatchkeeping (STW 39) of theInternational Maritime Organizationheld in London, United Kingdom onMarch 1-7, 2008.

The CHED is co-chair of

CHED Officials attend “STW39” International Meeting

Director Heracleo Lagrada (L) and Commissioner Nona Ricafort (2nd from R) jointhe other foreign delegates for a photo session during the “STW 39” internationalmeeting in London, United Kingdom.

200 student leaders / from page 2

Student Leaders pose for a break during the seminar/workshop in Marikina Cityon June 1, 2008.

the Maritime Training Council, a bodyresponsible for the over-allimplementation of the Standards ofTraining, Certification andWatchkeeping, including maritimeeducation and training.

Discussions during themeeting focused on the validation ofmodel training courses, unlawfulpractices associated with certificates

of competency, casualty analysis,comprehensive review of the STWConvention and STW Code andreview of principles for establishingthe safe manning levels of ships.

The Philippines submittednine papers for review of the STWConvention. Among these is theestablishment of databases fortraining and assessment, qualitystandards and revalidation ofcertificates.

The Philippine delegationwas headed by the Department ofTransportation and Communicationswith representatives from theDepartment of Labor andEmployment, ProfessionalRegulation Commission, MaritimeIndustry Authority, NationalMaritime Polytechnic, PhilippineAssociation of Maritime TrainingCenters, Inc, and FilipinoAssociation of MarinersEmployment.

The meeting was alsoattended by members of theInternational Maritime Organization,United Nations and specializedagencies, intergovernmentalorganizations, non-governmentalorganizations in consultative statusand Cook Islands.

Director Lagac and Mr.Havana tackled the issue on the“New Philippines” and the currentprograms of the administration.CSGP President, Mr. FranciscoPablo, Jr. gave a short message toclose the event.

The congress is one of theactivities under the StudentDevelopment Program beingimplemented by the CHED Officeof Student Services — StudentAssistance and Services Division.National and regional congresseswill be held in 2009.

66 HEI administrators complete CHEDManagement Development Programs

Sixty-six participants,mostly, deans, directors and vice-presidents of higher educationinstitution attended and completedthe CHED HEI ManagementDevelopment Program in May andJune 2008.

The 25-day seminar/workshop, specifically designed forsenior and middle level managersand university administrators ofHEIs (both public and private) wasconducted by CHED incoordination with the UP-DilimanCollege of Business AdministrationFoundation, Inc. and Ateneo Schoolof Government.

The training focused on fourmodules, namely, StrategicManagement and ExecutiveLeadership Module; FinancialManagement Module;Entrepreneurial ManagementModule; and Human ResourceManagement Module.

The ongoing CHED HEIManagement DevelopmentProgram is aimed at creatingawareness of the relationshipbetween the quality of managementand the quality of HEI performance,and giving managers the appropriateincentives and opportunities toaccess relevant quality programs,strengthen their capacity as leaders,and effectively manage and utilizeavailable resources.

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Ateneo School of Government(ASoG) graduate pose with Executive EducationProgram Director Aurma Manlangit (6th from L) CHED Commissioner SaturninoOcampo and ASoG Assistant Program Manager Randee Cabaces (R).

UP-Diliman College of Business Administration graduate pose with (2nd from L)Budget Office Dir. Joselito Florendo, Dean Erlinda Echanis of College of BusinessAdmin, CHED Commissioner Nenalyn Defensor, Chancellor Sergio Cao, Ms. Thelmadel Castillo of CHED-Office of Policy, Planning, Research and Information, andFinance and Accounting Prof. Arthur Cayanan of College of Business Admin (R).

PGMA launches / from page 1

44 institutions. Students from theseHEIs can now avail of a SAFE loanof up to P8,000 each.

SAFE aims to address theproblem on the increasing number ofcollege dropouts due to financialdifficulties. The program providesassistance to college students who arein the 3rd, 4th or graduating yearthrough an easy, accessible, andinterest-free student loan program.

The loan can be used to payfor tuition, books, course projects andother educational expenses. Thestudent loan program is expected toraise the number of Filipino graduatesfor the needed workforce in thecountry and abroad.

conference representing 89 HEIsaround the country. Among theparticipants were 12 youngchemistry teachers who receivedtravel grants to attend the conferencethrough the IUPAC Program onFinancial Support of Conferences.

Editorial BoardAssociate EditorsCharlie V. CalimlimEleonor I. Suarez

Christine M. Malate

ContributorsThelma D. Del Castillo

Rosalie C. BuscarMargarita C. Ballesteros

Joel M. ChavezArmie O. Bunag

Annie Q. TraquenaJaypee V. Espiritu

Alexis YumulWinston C. Braceros

Xenia B. RomeroFortunato B. Sevilla II

Office of the Press Secretary (OPS)EDP/OPS News

Rodolfo Manabat/OPS-NIB Photo

AdviserDr. Jean C. Tayag

Layout ArtistChristine M. Malate

CHEDLink

chemical education /from page 1

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED)is the government body covering both public and privatehigher education institutions as well as degree-grantingprograms in all tertiary education institutions in thePhilippines.

The CHED was created on May 18, 1994through Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher EducationAct of 1994. The CHED is attached to the Office of thePresident for administrative purposes.

The creation of CHED was part of a broadagenda for reforms in the country’s education system,outlined by the Congressional Commission on Education(EDCOM) in 1992. Part of the reform is the trifocalizationof the education management into the Department ofEducation (DepEd) for basic education, the Commissionon Higher Education for tertiary and graduate education,and the Technical Education and Skills DevelopmentAuthority (TESDA) for technical-vocational and middlelevel education.

Commission on Higher EducationHigher Education Development Center Bldg.

C.P. Garcia AvenueUP Diliman, Quezon City

info@ched.gov.ph

Website:http://www.ched.gov.ph

More than 100 presidentsof state universities and colleges(SUCs) presidents met with PGMAin Malacanang on May 15, 2008 todiscuss the strategies to increase thenumber of enrollment in agriculturaleducation programs and otherrelated courses.

After a presentation on thestatus of SUCs enrollment in agriprograms, Chairman Neri, DOSTand DA Secretaries EstrellaAlabastro and Arthur Yaprespectively, supported CHED onthe following: (a) Adoption of the“Earn While You Learn” schemewherein students will be given aparcel of land to cultivate andentitled to a share of the harvests’income; (b) provision for morescholarships and other financial aidsespecially for the farmers’ children;(c) offering of short-term and/orcertificate courses for agriculture andother related courses; (d) reductionof tuition fees for agriculture courses;(e) plan to mandate the agribusinesssuper regions to offer agriculture and

SUCs to increase enrollmentin Agri courses

fisheries courses; (f) removal of thelicensure exam for agriculture courses;and (g) promotion of farming asbusiness enterprise.

The issue on strengthening theagriculture faculty was also tackled andthe following recommendations weregiven: (a) Reduce the teaching loadand give faculty more extension loads;(b) train skilled workers (i.e. farmerscientists); (c) provide better facilities;and (d) provide more dedicatedextension specialists.

PGMA directed CHED andthe SUCs to fast track the

implementation of their proposalsincluding the review of the IRR ofthe law requiring licensure exams foragriculture and fisheries courses, andexplore the possibility of removingthe same.

Lastly, the Presidentmandated the North LuzonAgribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ)and Mindanao Agribusiness SuperRegions to offer agriculture andrelated courses through the issuanceof a CHED Memorandum Order toall SUCs.

President GloriaMacapagal-Arroyopresides over ameeting with SUCspresidents on “FoodProduction Programsand Human ResourceDevelopment inAgriculture” atMalacanang Palace.Also in photo are(From L) AgricultureSecretary Arthur Yap,CHED ChairmanRomulo Neri andSecretary EstrellaAlabastro of theDepartment of Scienceand Technology.