SENATOR Loren Legarda has filed Senate Bill No. 2264, or the proposed Internationalization Capacity of Philippine Higher Education Institutions Act, to strengthen the global competitiveness of Philippine colleges and universities.

The measure seeks to establish a National Internationalization Framework for Higher Education, create an Internationalization Support Fund, and improve inter-agency coordination to promote education exports and expand the international reach of local higher education institutions (HEIs).

Citing findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), Legarda noted that inbound foreign student enrollment in the Philippines increased from 14,132 in 2017 to 22,247 in 2022. Despite this growth, the country continues to lag behind regional peers such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

The proposed legislation seeks to address persistent barriers identified by EDCOM 2, including bureaucratic regulatory processes, restrictions on hiring foreign faculty in public higher education institutions, limited dedicated funding, and inadequate campus infrastructure.

Under the bill, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) would be tasked with developing a National Internationalization Framework to guide efforts to strengthen the global engagement of Philippine higher education institutions.

Each HEI would also be required to develop an Institutional Internationalization Plan aligned with its institutional mission and typology.

The measure further proposes an Internationalization Support Fund to finance academic mobility, joint degree programs, research collaborations, and “Internationalization at Home” initiatives, which aim to provide students with international learning experiences without requiring them to study abroad.

Through these measures, the proposed legislation seeks to expand international academic partnerships, strengthen research collaboration, and create more opportunities for Philippine students and educators to participate in global higher education.