The United States government, through its US Agency for International Development (USAID), launched a $30 million (P1.6-billion) program to enhance the skills of Philippine higher education graduates and make them globally competitive.
The US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning (UPSKILL) program will involve collaboration between American universities, Philippine government agencies, and private sector partners.
UPSKILL aims to achieve this by training faculty and staff in Philippine universities and colleges, updating academic programs to reflect current industry needs, and fostering collaboration between participating universities and the broader community.
This initiative is expected to improve graduates’ qualifications, career prospects, and equip them to meet evolving workforce demands. Additionally, it aims to strengthen linkages between US and Philippine universities.
USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Sara Borodin emphasized the importance of education in preparing young people for the future and reaffirmed the US commitment to collaborating with the Philippines in transforming its higher education sector.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) welcomed the partnership, highlighting the unique opportunities it offers for continuous innovation within Philippine universities and the potential to showcase the value of internationally recognized training and lifelong learning modalities.
The program will be implemented by RTI International through a consortium of US universities, which includes Arizona State University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, as well as Philippine partners such as Edukasyon.ph and the Philippine Business for Education.