MANILA – The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) spearheaded the launch of the Philippine Polytechnic Education Network (PhilPEN) during the National Summit on Polytechnic Education held from Oct. 14 to 16, 2026, at The Heritage Hotel Manila in Pasay City.
The summit brought together higher education leaders to strengthen collaboration in instruction, applied research, community extension, quality assurance, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cooperation.
The network’s main goal is to establish the Philippine Polytechnic Education Framework, which aims to harmonize curricula and quality standards, expand applied research and industry partnerships, and promote work-integrated learning to produce graduates equipped for evolving workforce demands.
PUP President Dr. Manuel Muhi led the participating institutions in advancing a shared national polytechnic identity and building a cohesive education ecosystem responsive to the country’s workforce and development needs.
“Let’s work together as one polytechnic. Let us build a consortium that will advance polytechnic education, that will contribute to national progress while responding to global challenges,” Dr. Muhi said.
The initiative also seeks to strengthen coordination among polytechnic institutions, with support from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), to improve the quality and impact of polytechnic education in the Philippines and the wider ASEAN region.
In her statement of purpose during the summit, Vice President for Research, Extension and Development (VPRED) Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin, the summit chairperson, emphasized the need to move beyond individual institutional plans toward coordinated action and a shared vision for polytechnic education.
“We gather not just to improve what we do but to redefine who we are. As polytechnic leaders, our purpose is clear: to build an education ecosystem where knowledge serves communities, research solves real problems, and our greatest measure of success is the public value we create,” Dr. Gapasin said.
Through PhilPEN, member institutions are expected to pursue long-term curriculum innovation, establish applied research partnerships, and expand work-integrated learning models that connect academic instruction with industry and community needs.
The network also aims to strengthen the capacity of polytechnic institutions to produce graduates prepared for evolving workforce requirements and regional labor mobility opportunities while developing practical solutions to local, national, and regional development
Participating institutions included Adiong Memorial State College, Camarines Sur Polytechnics Colleges, Dalubhasaang Politekniko ng Lungsod ng Baliwag, Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College, Laguna State Polytechnic University, Limay Polytechnic College, Marikina Polytechnic College, Navotas Polytechnic College, Pangasinan Polytechnic College, Polytechnic College of Botolan, Palompon Institute of Technology, and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology.
Representatives from the Technical Vocational Schools Association and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also participated in the gathering, highlighting the importance of linking technical-vocational education with higher education and skills development.
