Written by: ELMER A. IRENE
The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office VIII (CHEDRO8) conducted a Consultative Meeting with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Presidents and Unit Heads on June 27, 2025, held at Saint Paul School of Professional Studies (SPSPS), Palo, Leyte. The meeting served as a platform to discuss current and emerging issues in higher education, promote policy alignment, and recognize exemplary institutional efforts in the region.
The activity commenced with the Preliminaries, which included the Call to Order, acknowledgment of participants, and opening messages. One of the key matters raised was the submission of self-assessment reports for Board and Graduate Programs of Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs), along with the presentation of the new CHED Chairperson’s agenda encapsulated in the acronym ACHIEVE, emphasizing CHED’s continuing focus on quality assurance and academic development. Notably, one of the E’s in ACHIEVE stands for Expanded Internationalization Strategies, which underscores the Commission’s commitment to supporting HEIs in building global linkages, enhancing mobility programs, and integrating global competencies across curricula to elevate the international visibility and competitiveness of Philippine higher education.
The New Business segment covered relevant updates and action points, with the following agenda:
1. Collegiate Academic Calendar for AY 2026–2027 – Presented by Ms. Norina T. Espocia, Education Program Specialist (For Discussion).
2. Implementation of CHED Memorandum Order No. 3, s. 2025 (SUC Travel Assessment) – Discussed by Dr. Catherine O. Iglesias, OIC Supervising Education Program Specialist / IZN Focal (For Information).
3. Notice of Disallowance for BOR and Sub-Committee Meetings – Presented by Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, Regional Director (For Information).
4. Status of Unliquidated Fund Releases – Reported by Ms. Karla M. Dela Cruz, UniFAST Project Technical Staff III (For Information).
Representing Samar State University (SSU) in the said meeting were:
– Dr. Elmer Irene, Director for International Affairs
– Dr. Lanie Pacadaljen, OIC-Dean, Graduate School
– Ms. Irene Jean Lagumbay, representative of the Campus Director of SSU-Mercedes Campus
– Mr. Ferdinand Once, representative of the Campus Director of SSU-Paranas Campus
During the event, SSU was acknowledged by CHEDRO8 through Director Maximo C. Aljibe as one of the region’s HEIs that brought prestige by being ranked 1001–1500 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. This recognition highlighted the university’s continued efforts in aligning with global sustainability and development goals, and in strengthening its internationalization thrusts.
The meeting concluded with a call for stronger collaboration and compliance with CHED directives to advance the quality and impact of higher education in Region VIII.
