Soon, unlike traditional degree programs, students will have the opportunity to earn recognition for specific courses or modules completed through micro-credentials. This means that enrolled students may be awarded certifications for the courses they have successfully finished even before completing their full degree programs. This innovative approach is reshaping higher education, offering learners short, flexible, and competency-based certifications that validate specific skills, foster lifelong learning, and showcase professional growth according to their unique career or academic pathways.
It is within this context that the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges Region XI (PASUC-XI), in partnership with the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), hosted CertiPHy: A Masterclass on Micro-Credentials – From Concept to Implementation last August 7-8, 2025, at the Accreditation Center, 3rd Floor of the TLE Building, USeP Obrero Campus, Davao City.
As global education systems continue to evolve in response to the rapid demands of the 21st-century workforce, micro-credentials have emerged as a tool in education. These short, flexible, and competency-based certifications allow learners to validate specific skills, pursue lifelong learning, and showcase professional growth according to their unique career or academic pathways. In the Philippines, the movement toward outcomes-based education, flexible learning modalities, and stronger academe-industry collaboration has heightened the relevance of micro-credentialing in preparing a future-ready workforce.
Recognizing this shift, PASUC-XI brought together academic leaders, faculty members, and administrators from various state universities and colleges to strengthen institutional capacity in designing, implementing, and sustaining micro-credential programs. The two-day training, facilitated by Dr. Michelle A. Ong, former President of Mabalacat City College and a renowned authority in micro-credentialing, provided comprehensive discussions and practical workshops on curriculum design, competency mapping, learner assessment, digital badging, and quality assurance.
Participants came from PASUC XI member institutions, namely the Davao de Oro State College (DDOSC), Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), Davao del Sur State College (DSSC), Davao Oriental State University (DORSU), Southern Philippines Agri-business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST), and USeP. The event also welcomed invited higher education institutions (HEIs) outside the region, including the Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT), Rizal Technological University (RTU), Sulu State University (SSU), and the University of Perpetual Help System Laguna (UPHSL).
This masterclass also builds on the commitments made during the April 2025 academic mission to China, where ten Philippine HEIs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote collaborative innovation programs. Micro-credentialing was identified as one of the priority areas of cooperation, making this training a concrete step toward operationalizing those shared goals.
Representing USeP in the activity were University President Dr. Bonifacio G. Gabales, Jr.; Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Jeneifer C. Nueva; Dean of the Office of Advanced Studies Dr. Eveyth P. Deligero; and Program Head of the MBA, Dr. Nowa Cyrhyl C. Balderas.
Speaking on USeP’s commitment to this initiative, Pres. Gabales said, “When I was asked how confident we are in implementing micro-credentials, I said 99.9 percent because at USeP, we are fully committed to advancing this initiative. We acknowledge that this is not only a trend but also a timely response to global shifts in education and industry demands. We are now in the process of exploring this concept, and we are truly pushing for it.”
He added that USeP has already conducted an internal Workshop on the Crafting of Policy for Offering Undergraduate and Graduate Micro-Credential Courses, through the Office of the Advanced Studies and Curriculum and and Instruction Office, as part of its effort to develop comprehensive guidelines that will support faculty and administrators in understanding micro-credential frameworks, accreditation processes, and best practices in higher education. “Through this initiative, we aim to promote academic innovation and offer flexible learning opportunities in compliance with both national and international standards,” he emphasized.
USeP continues to strengthen its commitment to championing educational innovation and future-ready programs and takes pride in being an active partner in creating responsive, inclusive, and globally competitive higher education in the Philippines.
