Ched

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is a government agency in the Philippines responsible for higher education policy, planning, and coordination. It oversees both public and private higher education institutions and degree programs, and is charged with safeguarding the quality and relevance of higher education through policy development, licensure, and accreditation.

Established by Republic Act No. 7722, the Higher Education Act of 1994, CHED serves as the central policy-making, coordinating, and evaluative body for the Philippine higher education system. It formulates policies on curricula, instructional standards, and degree requirements; approves new program offerings and degree levels; and conducts or licenses quality assurance mechanisms through recognized accrediting bodies.

CHED grants supervision over higher education institutions and their programs, monitors compliance with standards, and works to align higher education with national development goals. It also administers student financial assistance and other initiatives aimed at expanding access to higher education, in coordination with national funding programs and laws.

Its governance rests with a chairperson and several commissioners appointed by the President, supported by regional and sectoral offices. Core programs include the designation of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, the implementation of quality assurance through program accreditation, and the promotion of international linkages and mobility. CHED also engages in planning and policy research, benchmarking with international peers, and monitoring institutional performance.

Through collaboration with other agencies, such as the Department of Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, CHED aims to harmonize higher education with basic education and technical-vocational training to strengthen the overall educational system.