To address the shortage of qualified nursing faculty in the Philippines, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has launched a flexible, technology-based Master’s Program for nurses. 

CHED Commissioner J. Prospero De Vera III revealed in a Facebook post that the agency has launched the policies, standards and guidelines for the Master in Nursing Education (MNE) Program. 

“This is our response to the directive of President Bongbong Marcos to increase the number of qualified nursing faculty in the country,” the post read.

Developed in collaboration with UP Manila-College of Nursing and UP Open University, the one-year program will start in the 2024-2025 academic year. The program incorporates the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) system, which allows practicing nurses to convert their clinical experiences into academic credits. 

“That is a way to convert the practice of faculty members of serving hospitals or have done other things… into units. So that they don’t have to go through all the subjects again,” De Vera explained to the media. 

The program’s flexible learning setup and the use of advanced laboratories in pilot higher education institutions (HEIs) are also key features. 

“The curriculum, when it is delivered by our universities, determines the correct division between face-to-face and online or distance learning. So, they make it flexible in terms of delivery,” De Vera added.

For its pilot implementation, 17 HEIs across various regions in the Philippines have been selected, including Metro Manila, Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol Region, Western and Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula and Davao Region.

To be eligible for the program, nurses must hold a valid Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) card, have at least one year of clinical experience, and submit a nursing portfolio showcasing their professional experiences and competencies.