VSU among EV’s only CHED SIKAP delivering HEIs

Good news for the teaching and non-teaching personnel in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)!

Visayas State University (VSU) is ready to accept applicants for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Scholarships for Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program (SIKAP), opening new opportunities for faculty members and staff in HEIs who wish to pursue graduate degrees.

With the greatest number of accredited graduate programs under SIKAP, VSU has been selected as one of the only three Delivering HEIs (DHEIs) in the region for Academic Year 2026-2027, together with Leyte Normal University (LNU) and Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).

As a DHEI, VSU proves that it meets CHED standards and can deliver quality graduate education.

The SIKAP scholarship is only open to faculty members of HEIs. 

While VSU is ready to accept qualified scholars from other institutions who wish to pursue their master’s or doctoral degrees, VSU faculty members and staff who wish to apply for the scholarship are not allowed to enroll in VSU and must instead apply in other delivering institutions.

Visit the new guidelines here: https://ched.gov.ph/sikap/

Why choose VSU?

VSU is a strong choice for applicants to pursue their graduate education. 

The university is 100% CHED-compliant, that is, all graduate programs meet the standards set by CHED. It is a critical indicator of legitimacy, ensuring that the education you receive is recognized by the government, employers, and other educational institutions.

Besides being accredited by AACCUP, an accrediting body recognized by CHED, it is also designated as a Center of Excellence (COE) for its Agriculture programs and a Center of Development (COD) for its Development Communication programs.

Moreover, aside from these distinctions, the Graduate Education Office of VSU also plays a vital role on why scholars should choose VSU. 

The office, for one, closely monitors scholars’ academic performance and meets program requirements on time. The Graduate Advisory Committee (GAC), composed of graduate faculty members, also helps evaluate and guide students’ progress.

According to Dr. Marilyn M. Belarmino, Director for Graduate Education, what sets VSU apart is its “human touch” and personalized approach.

“We are distinct in a way because of the “human touch.” We personalize our service to our graduate students. We go the extra mile to extend our service to them, even in the smallest things that have an impact on their studies,” Dr. Belarmino said.

Further, Dr. Belarmino emphasized that SIKAP is a valuable opportunity for faculty members across HEIs. 

“It is an opportunity to pursue graduate programs in accredited HEIs. VSU is ready to accept them, and we have many programs they can choose from according to their line of work. This is free, and everyone should take advantage of this program,” she added.

As a delivering institution, VSU helps strengthen higher education in Eastern Visayas through improving teaching quality, boost research productivity, and support innovation in key fields.

See the list of VSU graduate programs accredited for SIKAP scholarships here.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4: Quality Education.  

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