SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday stressed the important role of local universities and colleges in increasing access to education and in addressing persistent jobs-skills mismatch.

In a webinar titled “The Future of Local Colleges and Universities” hosted by the Philippine Futures Thinking Society and the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela, Gatchalian said LUCs can bridge the gap between jobs and skills while serving the poorest families in their areas.

“LUCs can be a driving force not only in serving our poor constituents, but also in terms of solving the job-skills mismatch in the country, thereby contributing to economic growth and faster recovery after the pandemic,” Gatchalian said.

Since LUCs report to the local government units that established them, they are more nimble, responsive and demand-driven to local situations and needs, especially in providing skilled professionals that the LGUs need, he said.

He added that LUCs should strive to be centers of human capital development and play key parts in the long-term development plans of LGUs.

They should also strengthen partnerships with the private sector, adopt their curriculums to conform to the Fourth Industrial Revolution and promote the use of flexible learning methods.

Gatchalian sought a standardized higher education quality measurement for LUCs, which should produce graduates who can be gainfully employed.

Based on the data of the Commission on Higher Education, there are 121 LUCs or 5.05 percent of the country’s 2,396 higher education institutions for School Year 2019-2020.

There were 248,731 students enrolled in LUCs, which is equivalent to seven percent of HEI enrollment for SY 2019-2020.