The Commission on Higher Education – Caraga Regional Office (CHED Caraga) conducted an Orientation with Caraga Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) on the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) and the Philippine Credit Transfer System (PCTS) in the Context of Quality Assurance in Higher Education on June 26, 2023 at the Balanghai Hotel and Convention Center, Butuan City.

The orientation was attended by HEI key officials, including school presidents, deans, and faculty. A series of pre-recorded lectures were shown during the orientation, which were as follows:

• Overview of the Philippine Qualifications Framework  – Jose Y. Cueto Jr., MD, FPCS, FPSGS, MHPEd, Acting Chairperson PRC, Commissioner
• The ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) and the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) – Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea, Chairperson, National Referencing Committee for Philippines

Following the orientations, the identified key concerns and ways forward during the Exploratory Conference with CHED and TESDA were then presented to the Caraga HEIs. An open forum followed where participants shared their own queries, concerns, and reactions to the discussions and reports presented. 

Parallel sessions were also conducted where HEI participants separated into groups according to their disciplines to brainstorm and identify key concerns and suggestions regarding the PQF and PCTS implementation guidelines. The parallel sessions were facilitated by the Education Supervisors of the Technical Division. 

The suggestions, concerns, and ways forward identified by the HEIs will then be consolidated with the report from the CHED-TESDA exploratory conference into a comprehensive report, and will be raised to the CHED Central Office to be taken into consideration during the policy-making process for the PQF and PCTS.