The Board of Investments (BOI) has set its sights on fostering international collaboration to bolster the country’s education sector and promote academic excellence.

This comes after the agency made key amendments to the 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) through its Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2024-08.

In a statement on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the BOI said these changes are to support and incentivize the establishment of education cities and branch campuses, which are among the latest advancements in the global education industry.

Education cities will fall under the SIPP’s Infrastructure and Logistics, which will involve the development of a “contiguous area for the establishment and operation of education facilities and buildings with digital infrastructure”.

This shall include the provision of auxiliary services that will enhance students’ education experience, as well as education facilities and buildings that may support research, healthcare, athletics, culture, and art facilities.

Meanwhile, the establishment of branch campuses in the country would be aligned under Republic Act (RA) No. 11448, or the Transnational Higher Education (TNHE) Act.

Specifically, the law states that Foreign Higher Education Institutions (FHEIs) may establish branch campuses in partnership with local entities, provided that the local partner is at least 60 percent Filipino-owned.

BOI Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dichosa said these amendments are “pivotal to advancing the national education agenda”.

“The new guidelines will enhance opportunities for international collaboration that would facilitate access to expertise and knowledge relevant to global industry trends, empower students, and bridge the gap between academe and industry,” she added.

Aiming for progress

The BOI first revealed plans for education cities and branch campuses during the launch of the Academe-Industry Matching (AIM!) Program in November 2024.

The AIM! Program serves as the agency’s multi-sectoral, multi-industry partnership initiative aimed at creating a job-ready workforce adept at technology and the future of work.

To achieve its vision of skilled and qualified Filipinos, the AIM! Program partnered with the  Department of Education (DepEd), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

DepEd will oversee the “Kids for the Future of Philippine Industrialization (K4F)”, which is designed to be an early-stage intervention to raise students’ awareness of industry trends and needs, while also helping them choose future courses.

TESDA, meanwhile, will run the “TRANsformational Skills-based Career ENrichment and Development (TRANSCEND)”, to update training regulations, provide skilling opportunities, and make training responsive to industry needs.

Lastly, CHED will head the “Enhance Learning Ecosystem and VAlue-adding Competencies Towards Employment (ELEVATE)”, which aims to institutionalize best practices, cultivate employment-ready graduates, and strengthen collaboration between businesses and educational institutions.

“With a young and vibrant population, the Filipino talent is the country’s biggest advantage,” said Halili-Dichosa.

Citing data from the 2023 World Competitiveness Report, the BOI official said the country’s skilled labor was identified as the top factor for the attractiveness of its economy.

The Philippines’ total population is around 116 million with a median age of 26 years old, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). 

With a reliable source of talent touted worldwide, Halili-Dichosa said this makes the country a lucrative destination for investment.

“The inclusion of education city and branch campuses in the SIPP will help nurture this talent pool while fostering international ties,” Halili-Dichosa added.