The University of Batangas (UB) and Batangas Eastern Colleges (BEC) formalized a transformative partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signing on February 24, 2026, held at the UB Patio Cafe.
The agreement establishes a robust ladderized education system, a strategic move designed to bridge the gap between technical-vocational training and higher education. This partnership enables students to experience a seamless transfer of credits and clear academic progression, ensuring that both institutions recognize prior learning and professional experience.
By aligning their curricula with the standards set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), UB and BEC reinforce the quality and relevance of their programs. This synergy aims to produce graduates who possess the global competitiveness required by the modern workforce.
UB President Lily Marlene J. Hernandez-Bohn led the university delegation, joined by Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Aurora P. Tolentino, Administration Services Director Mrs. Jeanina Faye C. Delos Reyes, and Vice President for Student Affairs and Services Mr. Christopher V. Quizon. Their presence signaled the university’s full institutional commitment to the success of this academic bridge.
Representing Batangas Eastern Colleges were Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Jose Carmelino V. Quizon, President Mrs. Jenny R. Salud, and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Lorelie A. Galit. The BEC leadership also included Treasurer Mrs. Maria Cynthia Q. Encarnacion, Tech-Voc Training Center Head Mrs. Joana Marie B. Sulit, and Tech-Voc Center Director Mrs. Maria Crisanta R. Isla.
This institutional partnership serves as a localized blueprint for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on creating equitable pathways for success.
The MoA directly advances SDG 4: Quality Education by removing traditional barriers to learning and promoting lifelong educational opportunities. The ladderized system ensures that students do not reach “dead ends” in their academic journeys but instead find continuous routes to higher degrees. Furthermore, the collaboration supports SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. By aligning education with industry standards like the PQF, both institutions produce highly skilled professionals ready to contribute to the nation’s economic resilience.
Finally, this initiative embodies SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. UB and BEC demonstrate how academic institutions can pool resources and expertise to solve systemic challenges in the Philippine education sector.