The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday moved for the “recalibration” of academic leadership as part of its push for reforms within higher education institutions (HEIs).

CHED entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to jointly implement the Leadership Development Program.

In a speech, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said HEI leaders must “not only be administrators but also visionaries” who are capable of carrying out learner-centered reforms.

“This is the working principle where CHED and DAP [are] coming in. Let us recalibrate the leadership inside of academic leaders. So, together with DAP, we will launch transformative initiatives,” she said.

Agrupis said leadership recalibration aims to equip university heads with proper training that will help them retool curriculums and match the skills of learners with actual industry needs.

“We must invest in the people who will implement them by equipping our education leaders with the right mindset, tools, and training. We are laying the groundwork for a higher education system that can rise above persistent problems,” she said.

Among these problems, Agrupis said, is the country’s unemployment rate, of which 35 to 38 percent are college graduates.

To date, only 13 percent of the 25,000 interviewed students in job fairs were hired nationwide, according to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“It’s so devastating, that’s why knowing this data is not enough to address the concern. Statistics may reveal the gaps, but it takes strong leadership to close them and address them,” Agrupis said.

Under the MOU, the CHED and DAP will recognize the experiences of academic managers as formal credentials.

The Board of Regents, presidents of state universities and colleges, and senior officials will likewise be given opportunities to join a five-year capability development program to help align higher education with national priorities and global standards. (PNA)