British Council, AACCUP to Advance Internationalisation, Research, and TNE in PH SUCs

Three-year partnership aims to strengthen global competitiveness, institutional capacity, and student outcomes across Philippine state universities and colleges.

MANILA, Philippines, 11 September 2025 — The British Council and the Accrediting

Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc., have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the quality and global competitiveness among AACCUP member institutions, which primarily consist of state universities and colleges.

The two parties formalised the partnership during the AACCUP Presidents’ Summit on 14 August 2025, marking the beginning of a three-year collaboration aimed at enhancing transnational education (TNE), internationalisation, and research among state universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country. British Council Country Director, Lotus Postrado and Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, President and Chairman of AACCUP led the signing ceremony.

Key points in this partnership include:

• Development of programmes that build institutional capacity in internationalisation, research, and TNE.

• Partnerships with UK-based quality assurance agencies and higher education institutions.

• Upgrading AACCUP’s accreditation standards to include metrics on internationalisation and TNE.

• Collaboration on English language assessment for students and staff through

British Council solutions such as IELTS, Aptis, and other assessments.

• Delivery of learning sessions on English language teaching, learning, and assessment for AACCUP members and their local partners.

Following this partnership agreement, both parties will jointly lead a series of consultation workshops with member universities and assessors to finalise AACCUP’s internationalisation standards, which will support SUCs in their pursuit of internationally recognised academic excellence. TNE, internationalisation, and collaborative research offer significant value to Philippine SUCs by enabling them to co-develop academic programmes in emerging and high-demand disciplines, enhance faculty expertise and access to global academic networks. For students, this provides access to broader learning opportunities, exposure to diverse perspectives, and improved employability. Together, these efforts support the

Philippines’ education reform agenda and contribute to inclusive, future-ready, and internationally competitive higher education.“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to advancing the quality of education in the Philippines and fostering global linkages,” said Dr. Penaso. “We are excited to work with the British Council to empower our institutions and educators.”

Lotus Postrado added, “The British Council is proud to support AACCUP in its mission to elevate Philippine higher education. Through this collaboration, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for students, educators, and institutions to thrive in an increasingly global academic landscape.”

Dr. Milabel E. Ho, Executive Director of AACCUP; Gerald T. Magno, Head of Education at the British Council Philippines; and presidents of various SUCs witnessed the signing.

This partnership empowers Philippine higher education institutions to expand their global reach, strengthen research, and deliver internationally recognised programmes.

By driving innovation and inclusive learning, it equips SUCs to produce future-ready graduates and lead transformative change in the sector.