- British Council & AACCUP signed a 3-year pact to boost quality and global competitiveness of Philippine state universities & colleges.
- The partnership focuses on transnational education, internationalization, research collaborations, and English language development.
- New internationalization standards will guide SUCs to global benchmarks, enhancing programs, faculty competence & student employability.
The British Council and Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc. have signed a three-year partnership agreement to enhance the quality and international competitiveness of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the country. AACCUP, which accredits SUC curricular programs, will cooperate closely with the British Council to increase opportunities for transnational education, internationalization, and collaborative research.
The agreement was signed by British Council country director Lotus Postrado and AACCUP chairman and president Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, witnessed by education leaders and representatives from different SUCs. The two institutions will develop programs that would construct institutional capacity in internationalization, research, and transnational education under the partnership.
The partnership also involves developing partnerships with UK-based higher education institutions and quality assurance agencies, and enhancing the accreditation standards of AACCUP to include measures on internationalization and TNE. Enhancing English language development is another key element of the partnership, where the British Council shares its globally accepted assessment tools like IELTS and Aptis, coupled with capacity-building workshops on English language teaching, learning, and assessment for academic and administrative personnel.
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There will also be a series of consultation workshops with SUC member universities and assessors to agree on AACCUP's new internationalization standards. These standards would guide Philippine higher education institutions toward global benchmarks so they could produce internationally recognized programs. This program will allow SUCs to more effectively co-develop high-demand and emerging fields academic programs, develop more competent faculty, and access broader academic networks.
Their students, at the same time, will be exposed to greater diversity of ideas, increased learning opportunities, and enhanced global employability. The collaboration is in line with the Philippines' larger education reform agenda that aims to develop inclusive, future-ready, and globally competitive higher education institutions.
Dr. Penaso underscored the significance of the partnership, highlighting that it is a commitment to ensuring the quality of education and developing international connections. Postrado concurred, stating the British Council is honored to be part of AACCUP's goal to improve Philippine higher education and provide opportunities for students, educators, and institutions to thrive in a globalized world.
