Dr. Somido Highlights the Role of International Benchmarking in Advancing Philippine Higher Education
During the AppliedHE Xchange @ FCPC, Dr. Ferdinand C. Somido, Chancellor of the University of Perpetual Help System JONELTA and PACUCOA Commissioner, emphasized that quality assurance is not an individual pursuit, but a shared responsibility among institutions committed to excellence, relevance, and global competitiveness.
In his message, Dr. Somido underscored the importance of complementing local quality benchmarks with international perspectives through engagement with AppliedHE. He shared that institutions should not participate merely for rankings, but to be measured against broader and more objective global standards.
He encouraged universities and colleges across the country to embrace credible international benchmarking mechanisms, stressing that if Philippine higher education institutions truly aspire to elevate quality standards, they must be willing to open themselves to international assessment and evaluation.
Dr. Somido further highlighted that internationalization today goes beyond student mobility and academic partnerships. According to him, it also involves how institutions measure outcomes, position themselves globally, and demonstrate that their educational standards are aligned with international expectations.
“We now view our engagement with AppliedHE as an integral part of our internationalization efforts aligned with the thrust of the Commission on Higher Education,” he shared.
He concluded by reminding institutions that quality assurance is not about proving that they are already excellent, but about ensuring continuous improvement and growth.
