When it comes to facilitating educational programs for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, one of the government agencies that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) works with is the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
Created on May 18, 1994 through Republic Act No. 7722, CHED is mandated to: promote relevant and quality higher education; ensure that quality higher education is accessible to all; protect academic freedom for continuing intellectual growth, advancement of learning and research; and many more.
Vision and Mission
CHED envisions a “Philippine higher education that is equitable and producing locally responsive, innovative, and globally competitive graduates and lifelong learners,” according to its official website.
Correspondingly, the mission of CHED is “to promote equitable access and ensure quality and relevance of higher education institutions and their programs.”
Key Programs
The main programs of CHED include the following:
Institutional and Program Authorization
CHED issues authorization to higher education institutions (HEIs), both public and private, to operate programs that comply with the Commission’s policies, standards, and guidelines.
Student and Faculty Scholarships
CHED offers scholarships and grants to qualified students and faculty, enabling them to pursue higher studies and achieve professional growth. These include financial assistance programs for students and faculty grants, along with foreign scholarships and training programs.
Institutional Grants
To encourage continuous development in the fields of education and research, the Commission provides institutional grants through the following programs: Institutional Development and Innovation Grants (IDIG) Program; Leading the Advancement of Knowledge in Agriculture and Sciences (LAKAS) Project; Sustainable Development Goals – Research Development and Innovation Grant (SDG-RDIG) Program; Sustainable Tourism Education Program Upgrading Project (STEP-UP); and more.
Internationally-Funded Programs
In partnership with development organizations such as Australian Aid, Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), and World Bank, CHED benefits from internationally-funded initiatives, which include technical assistance, capacity-building, and research, among others.
Awards and Recognition
The Commission recognizes and awards high-performing institutions. For this purpose, it carries out State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) Levelling, the Center of Excellence (COE) Project, the Internationalization Champions of Nation Building and Sustainability (ICONS) Awards, the Research and Publication (REPUBLICA) Awards, and other programs.
Gender and Development (GAD)
In line with the Magna Carta of Women (R.A. 9710), the Safe Spaces Act (R.A. 11313), and other laws, CHED is committed to promoting gender mainstreaming and social inclusion through its GAD Focal Point System (GFPS), and also by implementing gender-sensitive policies, systems, and initiatives.
Contact Information: CHED Main Office
For inquiries and concerns, you can get in touch with CHED Main Office through the following contact details:
Address: 55 C.P. Garcia Ave, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101 Metro Manila
Telephone: 02 8441 1260
Email: info@ched.gov.ph
Website: http://www.ched.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhCHED.gov/
Google Map:
CHED was established to ensure that quality higher education is accessible to all Filipinos, including OWWA member-OFWs and their families or dependents. Speaking of higher education, one of OWWA’s scholarship programs is the Congressional Migrant Workers Scholarship Program (CMWSP). Visit this link to learn more about it!