UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies

10/09/2026

LOOK: As part of the 2026 Development Policy Research Month (DPRM), PIDS, in partnership with DEPDev Region VI, will convene the first Visayas Policy Research Forum to discuss policy research and development issues relevant to the Visayas.

Anchored on the theme “Building Strong Institutions, Unlocking Human Resource Potential,” the forum will feature the preliminary findings of the SPACE Project-supported study, “Navigating the VUCAD World: Progress Tracking for Strategic Foresights for the SDGs.” This research is a collaboration between DEPDev VI and UP CIDS through UPV, aiming to use data-driven foresight to achieve the SDGs in the region.

See the attached post for more details about the upcoming event

10/09/2026

🤖 BUILDING TRUST IN AI | Explainable AI and Public Policy Basic Bootcamp 🌲💻

How do we balance the rapid power of Artificial Intelligence with transparency, accountability, and ethical public policy?

The UPCIDS Data Science for Public Policy Program, in partnership with the Cordillera Studies Center UP Baguio hosted a basic bootcamp on Explainable AI (XAI) and Public Policy in Baguio City! The initiative brought together Northern Luzon researchers, academics, and tech enthusiasts to explore how complex AI models can be made understandable, reliable, and aligned with public interest.

🔗 Read the full event feature below:

This year’s DSPPP’s second Basic Bootcamp on “eXplainable Artificial Intelligence for Public Policy (XAI4PP): Introduction to Data Analytics and Its Application to AI and Policy Analytics” was held in the University of the Philippines Baguio in collaboration with the Cordillera Studies Cente...

10/09/2026

🌱 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: The Political Economy of Higher Education Regulation 📚🎓

Higher education regulation is often viewed purely through the lens of administrative compliance and tuition fee caps. But what happens when price controls intersect with institutional incentives, operational efficiency, and the broader governance of public and private higher education?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Discussion Paper, "The Commission on Higher Education's De Facto Price Cap Regulation of Private Higher Education Institutions." Authored by Michael M. Alba and Anthony Raymond A. Goquinco, this study is published under our Program on Higher Education Research and Policy Reform (HERPRP). It takes a critical look into the economic and legal realities behind CHED's tuition regulation, shedding light on the complex dynamics of incentive regulation, information asymmetries, and public-private sector parity.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚙️ A De Facto Price-Cap Model: Analyzing how CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) 03 series of 2012 functions in practice as an |I-X| price cap scheme, where inflation acts as the ceiling and efficiency offsets are omitted.
🏝️ Private HEI Realities: Exploring how high-powered incentive regulation places full cost risks on private institutions, strongly encouraging operational efficiency while potentially weakening incentives for quality improvements.
🦀 Information Asymmetry & Market Failures: Examining the limitations of traditional price controls in addressing complex student challenges like locked-in costs, hold-up problems, and stranded costs.
💡 Policy Directions for Resilient Education Systems: Actionable recommendations on replacing price regulation with transparent online disclosure platforms, aligning societal roles with sustainable funding sources, and institutionalizing competitive neutrality.

By understanding the economic and regulatory structures that govern our academic institutions, we can ensure that higher education policies protect both institutional viability and the students who rely on them.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/commission-higher-educations-de-facto-price-cap-regulation-private-higher-education-institutions/

09/09/2026

🏆 PUBLIC FORUM | What Makes Nations Win? Context, Conditions, and a Sustainable Philippine Elite Sport System 🇵🇭🏅

What does it truly take to build an Olympic-caliber sports system that lasts across generations?

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) invites academics, sports administrators, athletes, policymakers, and sports enthusiasts to an upcoming online forum exploring the systemic, financial, and institutional factors behind sustained athletic success on the global stage.

💡 What to Expect:
🥇 Beyond Instant Success: Examining the foundational policy, funding, and governance conditions needed to transition from sporadic victories to a sustainable elite sports program.

🏋️ Context & Infrastructure: Unpacking how grassroots talent pipelines, sports science, and institutional support align to develop world-class athletes.

💬 Interactive Policy Dialogue: Facilitating an open exchange among scholars, sports leaders, and the public on shaping the future of Philippine sports policy.

Join the conversation as we look into the science, strategy, and policy framework behind building a nation of champions!

🔗 Read the full announcement:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/what-makes-nations-win-context-conditions-sustainable-philippine-elite-sport-system/

👉 Register here: https://bit.ly/CIDSCHKForum2026 or scan the QR Code below.

09/09/2026

🌱 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: The Compromised Regulatory Independence of the Commission on Higher Education and the Lack of Competitive Neutrality between Public and Private Higher Education Institutions 🏛️📊

How well-designed is the regulatory framework governing Philippine higher education, and does it truly empower the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to foster an equitable and high-performing sector?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Discussion Paper, "The Compromised Regulatory Independence of the Commission on Higher Education and the Lack of Competitive Neutrality between Public and Private Higher Education Institutions." Authored by Michael M. Alba, President of the Far Eastern University Public Policy Center (FEU PPC), this study is published under our Program on Higher Education Research and Policy Reform (HERPRP). It combines the economics of regulation with rigorous institutional and legal analysis to evaluate CHED's governance framework against the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Batas Pambansa 232, and RAs 7722 and 8292.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚙️ Regulatory Design Flaws: Analyzing how the current legal framework leaves CHED vulnerable to political interference, lacking accountability mechanisms, and devoid of strict norms of transparency and professionalism.
🏛️ The Independence Paradox: Examining how provisions such as charging CHED Commissioners to chair the governing boards of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) compromise regulatory independence and invite both standard and reverse regulatory capture.
⚖️ Competitive Neutrality Gaps: Highlighting the unequal playing field between state-supported public universities and non-state private higher education institutions (HEIs), noting how the lack of structural separation hurts sector-wide efficiency.
💡 Actionable Policy Directions: Proposing crucial reforms—including security of tenure for CHED Commissioners, the establishment of a Higher Education Information System (HEIS), explicit ethical standards, and new legislation to uphold competitive neutrality. Addressing these institutional flaws is an urgent matter of national importance if Philippine higher education is to overcome its long-running structural challenges and truly fulfill its public mandates.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/download/economic-bases-regulating-philippine-higher-education/

08/09/2026

📝 ORIENTATION | 2027 UP CIDS Policy Research Grant: Application Walkthrough & Proposal Orientation 💡📄

Planning to apply for the 2027 UP CIDS Policy Research Grant?

Join the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) for an online application walkthrough and orientation session designed to guide UP faculty and researchers through the entire submission and selection process!

Get clear insights into how to refine your proposal, ensure eligibility, and align your research with critical national policy needs.

📍 Event Details:
📅 Date: 21 September 2026 (Monday)
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 NN
💻 Platform: Zoom

💡 Program Flow & Topics Covered:
🎯 Alignment of Topic Interest: Framing research to address key policy priorities.
📋 Eligibility & Team Composition: Understanding guidelines for project leaders and team members across UP units.
💰 Budgetary Scope: Clarifying allowable expenses, funding allocations, and financial mechanics.
✍️ Project Proposal Mechanics & FAQs: Stepping through the application format and answering key applicant queries.

Don't miss this opportunity to prepare a competitive, high-impact proposal!

🔗 Register for the orientation via Zoom or scan the QR code below:
👉 tinyurl.com/2027CIDSGrantForumReg

For inquiries, email us at [email protected].

08/09/2026

🌱 NEW DISCUSSION PAPER: The Economic Bases for Regulating Philippine Higher Education 🎓📊

How ideally should Philippine higher education be organized to advance national aspirations and maximize social welfare? Navigating between market failures and government constraints, how do we design incentive structures that support our institutions and stakeholders?

We are pleased to announce the release of UP CIDS Discussion Paper,"The Economic Bases for Regulating Philippine Higher Education". Authored by Michael M. Alba, this study is published under our Program on Higher Education Research and Policy Reform (HERPRP). It evaluates alternative modes of provision for the sector, examining how independent regulation can address both market and government failures.

🔍 Key Highlights from the Paper:
⚙️ A Mode-of-Provision Problem: Framing Philippine higher education through welfare economics and the economics of regulation to balance national human capital goals with institutional diversity.
📉 Market Constraints & Failures: Analyzing four core market failures—club-good characteristics, externalities, localized natural monopolies, and pronounced information asymmetries where education acts as both an experience and credence good.
🏛️ The Trap of Government Failures: Highlighting how bureaucratic inefficiencies, policy volatility, and the exceptionally high cost of public funds in the Philippines can make direct state provision more damaging than market failures.
💡 Independent Regulation as a Solution: Proposing a carefully designed independent regulatory framework that aligns stakeholder incentives, insulates policy from political interference, and is driven by technical experts.

By establishing a robust, independent regulatory framework, we can protect social welfare, foster educational quality, and ensure that higher education institutions effectively fulfill their societal roles.

📖 Download the full discussion paper for FREE:
https://cids.up.edu.ph/discussion_paper/economic-regulating-philippine-higher-education/

07/09/2026

💡 ONLINE FORUM | Semiconductor Industry Development in Taiwan and the Philippines: Comparative Insights for the Global South 🇵🇭💻

How can strategic policy choices help the Philippines move beyond foreign assembly and step up in the global semiconductor race?

Join the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) Political Economy Program (PEP) for an insightful online forum unpacking the findings of its latest Discussion Paper! Authors Lianne Angelico C. Depante and Kirsten Lianne Mae C. Dedase will present their research, followed by a discussion moderated by Honey B. Tabiola (UP CIDS PEP).

📍 Event Details:
📅 Date: September 25, 2026 (Friday)
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
💻 Platform: Zoom

Don't miss this opportunity to engage with critical research shaping Philippine industrial policy!

🔗 Secure your spot today by registering at bit.ly/SIDTPForum2026 or by scanning the QR code below.

03/09/2026

🌏 13TH KOREA-ASEAN COMMUNITY POLICY EXCHANGE (KACPE) INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY SYMPOSIUM 🤝

How are regional research networks driving state capacity and policy innovation across Southeast Asia and South Korea?

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS), in partnership with UP Korea Research Center and the Korea Research Initiatives at the University of New South Wales (KRI@UNSW) , is hosting the 13th Korea-ASEAN Community Policy Exchange (KACPE) International Public Policy Symposium!

Under the theme "Advancing National Development in ASEAN Transition Economies through Korea-ASEAN Strategic Partnership," this premier 1.5-track international forum gathers senior policymakers, academics, and researchers across Asia to address pressing governance, economic, and regional security challenges.

🔗 Read the full event feature here: https://cids.up.edu.ph/13th-korea-asean-community-policy-exchange-kacpe-international-public-policy-symposium/

🔗 Visit the event microsite: https://cids.up.edu.ph/the-13th-kacpe-international-public-policy-symposium/

02/09/2026

📢 CALL FOR PROPOSALS | 2027 UP CIDS POLICY RESEARCH PROJECT GRANT 🔬📄

Are you a University of the Philippines faculty member or researcher looking to transform interdisciplinary research into actionable, policy-oriented solutions?

The UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies (UP CIDS) is now accepting proposals for the 2027 Policy Research Project Grant!

This grant program provides funding and institutional support to UP scholars conducting rigorous, evidence-based research aligned with key national development priorities and policy reforms.

💡 Focus & Grant Coverage:
🎯 Interdisciplinary Policy Impact: Funding research projects that directly inform national policy frameworks, public administration, and community-centered development.
🏛️ Institutional Support: Opportunities to publish through UP CIDS policy briefs, monographs, and discussion papers, alongside platform support for policy roundtables.
👥 Target Applicants: Regular faculty members and full-time research staff across all UP constituent universities.

Seize the opportunity to translate your research into meaningful public policy and national development impact!

🔗 View the full eligibility criteria, priority areas, and submission guidelines here: https://cids.up.edu.ph/call-for-proposals-2027-up-cids-policy-research-project-grant/

For inquiries, email us at [email protected]