12 Higher Education Teams join Inaugural Cohort of the 2024 Transformation Accelerator in the Philippines

UDI in the Philippines

Advancing workforce development and innovation in Philippine higher education, formerly USAID’s UPSKILL. The program empowers institutions to drive economic growth, strengthen industry partnerships, and foster global collaboration, benefiting the local workforce and international stakeholders.

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Empowering Leaders for Transformation

In February 2024, Arizona State University, by way of the University Design Institute (UDI), was one of three U.S. universities selected to join the United States-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation, and Lifelong Learning, or UPSKILL Program, funded by USAID/Philippines.

UPSKILL is a five-year program that will help Philippine higher education become more globally competitive by strengthening innovation, workforce development, and entrepreneurship in colleges and universities.

The UPSKILL Program is being led by RTI International, which has extensive experience executing projects of this scale. Collectively, UDI’s efforts combined with the efforts of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s D-Lab and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, aim to transform higher education during a critical juncture in the nation’s history so the Philippines can remain competitive on a global landscape.

Addressing Challenges, Seizing Opportunities

The Philippines, home to over 2,000 higher education institutions, faces significant challenges related to access and degree attainment. With a rapidly growing number of university-aged students, the country is at a critical juncture, requiring a strategic transformation in its higher education system to keep pace with the global economic landscape.

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UPSKILL News & Updates

USAID/Philippines Mission Director Ryan Washburn (center, in suit and tie) and CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III (center in white button-down shirt) launch the USAID UPSKILL Higher Education Innovation Leaders Fellowship Program. The launch featured the first batch of fellows, composed of 16 senior academic leaders and higher education officials from across the Philippines who will participate in an eight-month learning program, including sessions at Arizona State University, so they can drive innovatio

New ASU-led fellowship focused on reimagining higher education in the Philippines

UDI launched a fellowship program aimed at transforming higher education in the Philippines amidst challenges of access and degree attainment, as part of a…

Arizona State University is a pioneer in making higher education accessible on a global level. We are fully engaged in finding innovative ways to create teaching and learning impact at scale, and we are excited to have a leading role in transforming the future of higher education in the Philippines.

Michael M. Crow ASU President