Makati City, Philippines — September 18, 2025. Southville International School affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU) participated in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – British Council Consultation on the Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) National Strategy, held on September 17–18, 2025 at Sheraton Manila Hotel, bringing together key voices from academe, government, industry, and international organizations.

The landmark event aimed to finalize the country’s first comprehensive TNHE National Strategy, a roadmap to strengthen the Philippines’ role as a hub for globally recognized higher education.

A Two-Day Collaborative Effort
The consultation opened with addresses by Lotus Postrado, Country Director of the British Council and Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education followed by plenary sessions by international experts and foreign ministry representatives from Malaysia, the UAE, and Vietnam focusing on global and regional trends, emerging TNHE models, ASEAN case studies, and the experiences of TNHE students.

On the second day, breakout sessions engaged participants from national government agencies, higher education institutions, industry partners, and students, who provided practical recommendations to validate and refine the draft TNHE National Strategy.

Key objectives of the consultation included presenting global best practices, amplifying the voices of students and institutions, and co-creating an implementation roadmap for TNHE. By the event’s conclusion, stakeholders had produced sector-specific recommendations and a refined national strategy set for presentation to the CHED Commission En Banc.

SISFU’s Contribution
As the Philippines’ pioneer in transnational higher education, SISFU shared its expertise from nearly three decades of delivering UK-based programmes in partnership with Pearson UK and De Montfort University (UK). SISFU emphasized the importance of quality assurance, industry relevance, digital transformation, and student mobility in shaping a TNHE framework that is both globally competitive and locally impactful.

“SISFU is honored to contribute to the development of the Philippines’ National Strategy on TNHE,” said Dr. Jocelyn Tizon, President of SISFU. “Collaboration among academe, government, industry, and international partners is key to building a sustainable education system that equips Filipinos to thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape.” Daniel Steel, Dean of Academics added: “The success of TNHE in Dubai and Malaysia reveals its extraordinary potential to transform economies and societies. This reinforces the need for a unified national strategy for the Philippines. We applaud CHED and the British Council for their vision in uniting diverse stakeholders to shape a Strategy that will deliver long-term, scalable, and meaningful impact.”

About the Consultation
The CHED–British Council partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing capacity-building, inclusivity, and internationalization in Philippine higher education. With representatives from CHED’s central and regional offices, national agencies, HEIs, industry, and TNHE students, the consultation set the stage for policies and programs that will expand access to world-class education for Filipino learners.

SISFU’s participation reflects its mission to deliver international higher education at the highest standards while actively contributing to national policies that will shape the future of education in the Philippines and ASEAN.

About SISFU
Southville International School affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU) is the Philippines’ leading transnational education institution, offering globally recognized programmes through partnerships with Pearson UK and De Montfort University UK. SISFU is committed to producing graduates who are globally competitive, industry-ready, and future-focused.