Abstract:
There has been a speedy increase in the number of higher education providers,
including private higher education institutions in the Philippines. This proliferation
of providers and institutional types has given rise to a need to address the issues
of skills and relevance in the Philippines. The World Bank (2012) has reported
on a significant gap between the skills needs of employers and the levels of skills
produced by higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. How does
the Philippines manage the increased demand for higher education to provide
skills needed to develop the society and the economy? This article analyses
the expansion of higher education globally and in the Philippines, in particular,
and its impact on skills production. We argue the case for the proper regulation
of the higher education system, in general, and private higher education, in particular, to deliver the relevant skills needed for the economic development
and global competitiveness of the Philippines.