Advancing its pursuit of innovative and accessible pathways for continuing education, the University of Northern Philippines, through the College of Open and Distance Education (CODE) and the Instruction and Faculty Development Office, participated in the Zonal Public Orientation on the Addendum on the Eligibility Requirements for the Deputization of Higher Education Institutions cum Lifelong Learning Caravan conducted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on September 10, 2026, at the Monarch Hotel, Calasiao, Pangasinan.
The activity brought together representatives from higher education institutions and other concerned stakeholders to provide important updates and orientation on the addendum to the eligibility requirements for the deputization of HEIs. It also served as a venue for sharing relevant information on lifelong learning opportunities, initiatives, and developments in Philippine higher education.
The participation of the College of Open and Distance Education in the orientation further strengthened the University of Northern Philippines’ efforts to align its open and distance learning initiatives with evolving national standards. Representing CODE, Assistant Dean Dr. Wilson Tolio gained updated insights into CHED policies, eligibility requirements, and key initiatives concerning Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL) and lifelong learning. His engagement provided CODE with valuable guidance for continuously enhancing its programs and initiatives, ensuring that its delivery of flexible and accessible education remains responsive to current higher education policies, quality standards, and emerging lifelong learning needs.
Further strengthening UNP’s engagement in the CHED-led initiative, Dr. Flynn Castro, MIT, ETEEAP Coordinator of the Instruction and Faculty Development Office, also took part in the activity, in line with his role in overseeing the University’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP). His participation provided an opportunity to gain relevant updates and insights that can further support the effective implementation and continuous improvement of ETEEAP, particularly in advancing flexible and alternative pathways to higher education for qualified learners.
The participation of Dr. Tolio and Dr. Castro provided UNP with valuable first-hand insights into the latest CHED policies, eligibility requirements, and opportunities related to HEI deputization and lifelong learning. The knowledge gained from the orientation is expected to further guide the University in strengthening its Open and Distance e-Learning and ETEEAP programs and services, ensuring their continued alignment with current national higher education policies and standards.
More significantly, the activity reaffirmed UNP’s commitment to advance accessible, flexible, inclusive, and quality higher education through lifelong learning. By pursuing alternative educational pathways and innovative approaches to learning, the University continues to respond to the diverse and evolving needs of learners in different circumstances and stages of life.
Through sustained engagement with CHED programs and initiatives, UNP continues to enhance its institutional capacity, embrace emerging opportunities, and expand pathways to quality education, reinforcing its mission of making higher education more accessible and responsive to learners in various contexts.
