State Universities and Colleges Ready to Lead AI Revolution at CHED RAISE 2026 Summit

Iloilo Convention Center, Iloilo City – As the digital landscape continues to reshape global industries, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officially convened the national summit “CHED RAISE 2026: Responding through AI for Societal Empowerment” at the Iloilo Convention Center.

The three-day event, which concludes today, February 27, 2026, has brought together university presidents, digital innovators, and policymakers to craft a unified national roadmap for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the country’s state college systems.

Co-hosting the event in Iloilo were Northern Iloilo State University (NISU), in partnership with West Visayas State University (WVSU)—highlighted the crucial role of regional institutions in the digital shift. As the summit draws to a close, the participants are expected to return to their respective campuses with a finalized policy framework, ready to transform the "Big Bet for the Future" into a classroom reality.

CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis opened the summit by characterizing the adoption of AI as a "gargantuan opportunity" for the nation's 113 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs).

"AI is already in our classrooms, our research, and our fields. For our higher education institutions, embracing this technology is no longer just a strategic goal—it is a mandate to ensure our graduates remain globally competitive," Agrupis stated.

The Chairperson further emphasized that while AI is a powerful enabler, the Commission remains steadfast in upholding academic integrity, ensuring that the technology enhances rather than replaces the rigors of human learning and critical thinking.

Among the institutions championing the movement is the Adiong Memorial State College (AMSC) as represented by SUC 1 President Sherifa Rohannie K. Adiong and the Head of Information and Communication Technology (ICTO), Sir Junaid B. Ahmad of the AMSC Lake Knights academic community who expressed their readiness to implement the RAISE framework.

Leadership at AMSC extended their gratitude to Commissioner Michelle Aguilar Ong, whose office has been instrumental in bridging the gap between national digital policy and the localized goals of state colleges. For AMSC, the summit serves as a launchpad to "raise the bar higher," aligning its curriculum with the National AI Upskilling Roadmap.

The summit focused on five strategic pillars designed to modernize the Philippine academe, to wit: first, Reimagine education by transforming pedagogy through AI-powered tools; second, Align skills by bridging the gap between graduation and the AI-driven workforce; third, Innovate responsibly by establishing ethical guidelines for AI use; fourth, Strengthen partnerships by fostering collaboration between government, industry, and academe; and lastly, Empower communities by using AI to solve local problems and meet UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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