Program on Higher Education Research and Policy Reform (HERPRP)

Starting August 2021, hired consultants from the call last June 2021 were finally onboarded to the program. The research consultants are expected to produce one paper on a higher education topic of their choice and to assist in the program in one of its six ongoing activities. Their outputs will be released in 2022.
Last November 2021, prominent personalities in higher education came together in an online roundtable discussion titled “Higher Education in EDCOM: Going Global?” to explore the implications of reconvening the Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM) in the current Philippine higher education landscape.
The “Higher Education in EDCOM: Going Global?” event was spearheaded by Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian. Various insights from the University of the Philippines (UP), University of the East (UE), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), and Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) were presented and tackled during the roundtable discussion.
In collaboration with the other programs in the UP CIDS Education Cluster, the “Making Our Way Back to the Classroom” webinar was well-attended by various stakeholders from the basic education to tertiary education sectors. Government agencies, such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shared their plans on coping with the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last August 2, 2021, Dr. Paragas joined the initial meeting of evaluators and virtual orientation for the PBSP–REX Publishing Edukampyon 2021 Awards as one of its jury members. The awards aim to recognize outstanding initiatives of Philippine higher education institutions (HEI) amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The jury was tasked to evaluate entries for this year’s awards for potential finalists.

Fernando DLC. Paragas, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Communication Research
College of Mass Communication
University of the Philippines Diliman

Convenor

Rationale and Objectives

The Program on Higher Education Research and Policy Reform (HERPRP) aims to chart a research agenda, systematically build an evidence base for policy analysis, and create a network of experts and researchers doing work in this sector. HERPRP also serves as a convening body seeking to build partnerships and working collaborative networks among stakeholders.

In pursuit of these objectives, HERPRP seeks to gather experts who will collectively map out a short- and medium-term research agenda on the needs of the tertiary education sector.