Tagaytay City, Philippines – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), officially launch the Elevating Leadership and Institutional Capacity Towards Excellence in Philippine Higher Education (ELITE PHE) Program on September 7, 2026, convening a diverse community of State University and College (SUC) leaders nationwide at the DAP Conference Center in Tagaytay City.
The pioneer batch features 87 SUC executives, administrators, and board secretaries across 56 institutions nationwide. Designed to strengthen leadership and governance across the Philippine higher education sector, the program directly supports the CHED’s ACHIEVE agenda for centralized, one-nation human capital development. To drive these institutional reforms, participants will undergo rigorous specialized training across the program’s four core subprograms: Executive Capability Enhancement and Leadership Program (EXCEL), Executive Leadership Program (ELP), Leadership Development Program (LDP), and Governance Strengthening for Effective SUC Oversight (Gov-SESO).
Delivering her keynote message, CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis affirmed the agency’s steadfast commitment to spearheading programs, such as ELITE PHE, focused on academic governance and institutional capacity. She emphasized the critical need to develop people alongside advancing technology, urging leaders to cultivate an adaptive mindset and drive innovation as the educational landscape continues to evolve.
The ceremony concluded with the formal introduction of the participants, led by CHED Executive Director Atty. Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro, with representatives from each program delivering statements of support and commitment during their recognition.
Following the launch, participants proceeded straight into their first residential training courses tailored to their respective tracks: Building the Intelligent University: Al and Digital Innovation (ELP), The Future of Higher Education: Philippine, Regional, and Global Trends (LDP), and SUC Board Secretary Training (Gov-SESO).
The ELITE PHE program marks a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between CHED and DAP to nurture a generation of effective, adaptive Philippine SUC leaders equipped to navigate an increasingly complex higher education environment.
