To ensure that international education becomes more accessible to students in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on Tuesday, July 2, that it has approved the first transnational higher education (TNHE) programs of Mapua University and Arizona State University (ASU).
“Through the Transnational Higher Education Law, we are creating another pathway for Filipino students to access and acquire international education, enhancing their skills in specialized areas and competitiveness in the global field,” CHED Secretary Popoy De Vera said in a statement.
The Transnational Higher Education Act (Republic Act No. 11448), enacted in 2019, aims to develop a globally competitive workforce, talents, and innovations. CHED is mandated by this law to develop effective transnational higher education programs and institutions in the Philippines.
Mapua-ASU Partnership
CHED has authorized Mapua University to offer TNHE programs starting this school year.
These programs include Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Master of Global Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Master of Leadership and Management, Bachelor of Science in Marketing - Bachelor of Science in Digital Audiences, Bachelor of Science in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics - Bachelor of Science in Data Science, Business Analytics Track, and Bachelor of Science in Global Management - Bachelor of Science in International Trade.
“Through flexible transnational higher education modes, students can acquire double degrees in four years or be guaranteed advanced entry into a master's program at ASU,” CHED said.
CHED noted that through this partnership between Mapua and ASU, one of the most innovative universities in the US, “Mapua equips interested students with world-class training in international business, cross-cultural relations, global political economy, and regional business environments.”
Arizona State University is a public HEI recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). It is ranked 200th in the 2025 QS World University Rankings and 155th in the 2024 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.
ASU has retained the top spot as the Most Innovative School in the US for eight consecutive years, as reported by the U.S. News & World Report.
Mapua University, on the other hand, is a CHED-recognized Philippine higher education institution ranked within 601-650 in the 2024 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Asia rankings and 1501+ in the Times Higher Education rankings.