A 15-member delegation headed by Commissioner Alex B. Brillantes, Jr. of the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) visited the APO Secretariat in Tokyo last week. The delegation included presidents and chancellors of state universities and colleges (SUCs) that focus on engineering and technology programs. During the visit, the delegates were introduced to the APO and its programs, initiatives for higher education and vocational training institutes in the region, as well as the activities of the Center of Excellence on Public-sector Productivity.

The group was in Japan on a five-day study mission under the Philippine Higher Education Career System (Phil-HECS) Presidential Leadership Program of the CHED, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The Phil-HECS program aims to improve the quality of higher education and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of institutional governance of SUCs by promoting accountability and strengthening institutional leadership and management competencies.

The visit to the APO Secretariat was organized jointly by the CHED, DAP, and PASUC in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency and National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies. Selected engineering universities in Japan will also host the delegation to provide academic overviews from 23 to 27 January.