MANILA – Philippine higher education institutions are being called upon to take a leading role in helping the country meet its United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, officials said during the Higher Education Summit 2026 in Angeles City, Pampanga.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis stressed that while the nation has made progress in certain areas, critical SDGs—including health, sanitation, sustainable cities, and strong institutions—remain behind schedule. Climate-related targets also require urgent attention.
“We are moving forward, but the pace is not enough to produce measurable results within the next five years,” Agrupis said. “Our universities and colleges hold immense potential to accelerate the SDGs, yet this potential has not been fully tapped.”
To address these challenges, CHED is strengthening collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and other government agencies to align academic programs, research, and innovation with national development priorities. The ACHIEVE Reform Agenda (2025–2030) serves as the guiding framework for integrating SDG-oriented initiatives into higher education.
As part of these initiatives, CHED has launched the SDG-Focused Research, Development, and Innovation Grant, supporting collaborative projects in areas such as food security, climate resilience, healthcare, and renewable energy. The Higher Education Innovation Blueprint, developed with DOST and the University of Southeastern Philippines, also enhances universities’ innovation and commercialization capabilities.
Higher education institutions are adopting tools such as UNESCO’s Sustainability Evaluation Tool to integrate sustainability across curricula, research, and governance. Faculty upskilling programs, including HUSAI, ensure educators are equipped to advance SDG priorities.
Universities are actively implementing SDG-related projects, from probiotics and functional foods research at Mariano Marcos State University to AI applications in health research at the University of the Philippines Manila and tech-driven fisheries solutions at Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology.
Agrupis emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts across government agencies, including CHED, DOST, the Philippine Statistics Authority, the Department of Budget and Management, and the National Economic and Development Authority, to align research, policy planning, and investments with the country’s SDG objectives. She added that strong cooperation between government, academia, industry, and international partners is essential to closing the SDG gaps in the years ahead.
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