Philippines launches transnational education strategy with student visa green lane

The Philippines' Commission on Higher Education (CHED) soft-launched a national Transnational Higher Education Strategy on November 3, 2026 at the first ASEAN-UK Higher Education Week in Manila, an event the British Council organised with CHED. The strategy focuses on the period from 2027 to 2030 and includes plans for a green lane visa system to speed up processing for international students and academics.

According to The PIE News, the visa route is modelled on a system used in Malaysia and is meant to reduce red tape for incoming students and staff. The strategy also sets out a quality framework for mutual recognition of qualifications between the Philippines, other ASEAN members and the United Kingdom. CHED said partnerships will centre on dual degrees and research agreements rather than international branch campuses, and that it would also welcome agreements with Japan and the United States. A partnership between the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the University of Reading has already been signed. No numerical targets for visa processing times or enrolment were reported.

The Manila meeting brought together nearly 160 policymakers, university leaders and researchers from ASEAN and the UK, Viet Nam News reported. As ASEAN chair, the Philippines hosted the event, and CHED chairperson Shirley Agrupis hoped Singapore and later chairs would continue it. Philippine legislation to ease transnational education partnerships was being drafted in 2019.