US, PH launch fellowship for HEI officials upskilling

A NEW fellowship program launched by the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) will equip Philippine academic officials to develop innovative and high-impact programs in higher education.

The Higher Education Innovation Leaders Fellowship Program is part of USAid's five-year, P1.6 billion ($30 million) United States-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Life-long Learning or the Upskill initiative.

The US Embassy in Manila said the fellowship would bring together 16 senior academic officials from higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines for an eight-month learning experience to empower them to drive innovation within their organizations.

Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III and United States Agency for International Development (USAid) Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn (10th and 11th from left, respectively) with the first batch of fellows of the USAid Upskill Higher Education Innovation Leaders Fellowship Program, composed of 16 officials from across higher education institutions in the Philippines to participate in an eight-month learning program focused on innovation. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

«This fellowship program represents our investment in developing leaders who will inspire change and strengthen the country's higher education sector through innovation and collaboration,» USAid Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn said during the launch on May 13.

The inaugural cohort is composed of two CHEd officials and senior academic officials from Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University Manila, De La Salle University Laguna, Far Eastern University, Mapua University, Mariano Marcos State University, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines, and University of San Carlos.

The embassy said the fellows would engage in learning sessions covering global trends in higher education, driving organizational reforms, and crafting innovative solutions to enhance the impact of higher education programs.

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It said the program's highlight