ILOILO CITY, Philippines — February 25–27, 2026 — The Southville Global Education Network (SGEN), represented by Southville International School and Colleges (SISC) and Southville International School affiliated with Foreign Universities (SISFU), proudly participated in CHED RAISE 2026: Responding through AI for Societal Empowerment, held at the Iloilo Convention Center.

Led by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under the leadership of Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, CHED RAISE 2026 convened national leaders from CHED, the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), alongside State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), private HEIs, LGUs, and industry partners to accelerate responsible and inclusive AI integration across Philippine education.

A National AI Roadmap Anchored on People and Purpose

The summit unveiled a comprehensive AI upskilling roadmap targeting 10,000 AI developers, 3,000 AI engineers and 2,000 AI experts.

In collaboration with the Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines (AAP) and global technology leaders including Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Amazon, the initiative promotes:

• AI literacy from basic education to higher education
• Stackable micro-credentials
• Faculty upskilling through CHED’s HUSAY Program
• Research aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• Governance modernization through AI integration

Chair Agrupis emphasized moving “from framework to institutional action,” ensuring AI is implemented responsibly, ethically, and accessibly nationwide.

Southville’s Active Participation and Strategic Engagement

Represented by Executive Director for Administration & HRMD Cristina Aguilar-Borja, MBA-HR and Scholarship & Admissions Manager, Elydia R. Reyes, MBA.  

Key highlights include:

• Exploratory discussions with SUC Presidents and Deans regarding Transnational Education (TNE) representing Southville-SISFU British Universities such as De Montfort University, Anglia Ruskin University, University of Lancashire, University of Derby as well as how Pearson UK qualifications can benefit HEIs.
• Scholarship and LGU-sponsored onboarding opportunities for scholars
• Collaboration prospects for stackable AI and digital technology programs
• Engagement with industry groups such as IBPAP and AAP for work-relevant micro-credentials

One notable moment during the opening ceremonies was when Chair Agrupis publicly acknowledged all Private HEIs visible participation among organizing leaders and VIP delegates, reflecting the institution’s longstanding commitment to supporting CHED initiatives.

Industry Insights: Lifelong Learning and Career Readiness

Industry leaders reinforced that AI transformation requires continuous upskilling.

IBM highlighted lifelong learning through IBM SkillsBuild, while digital career platforms such as SeeMeConnect emphasized modern alumni tracking and graduate employability solutions.

The convergence underscored the growing need for:

• AI curriculum review by industry experts
• Stackable, work-relevant certifications
• Career services modernization
• Credit transfer pathways ensuring employability

Extending Impact: Bacolod–Iloilo School-Industry Caravan

Parallel to CHED RAISE 2026, Southville conducted the Bacolod–Iloilo School-Industry Caravan, further expanding regional engagement, visited schools and industries in the region promoting new initiatives for learners who are in the Visayas region such as FREE online masterclasses with certification,  scholarship offers, expansion of stackable digital technology programs.

Southville’s Commitment to the National AI Movement

Southville reaffirms its strong support for CHED’s national AI transformation agenda. With its existing global partnerships, UK qualifications, and flexible learning pathways, SGEN is positioned to contribute meaningfully to the RAISE roadmap through:

• Transnational Education (TNE) offerings
• Stackable micro-credentials
• Industry-driven curriculum alignment
• Research innovation and global certifications

As CHED advances responsible AI integration anchored on People, Purpose, and Shared Progress, Southville stands ready as an institutional partner in shaping globally competitive, ethically grounded Filipino graduates.