MANILA, Philippines – Starting school year 2015-2016, qualified colleges and universities may open undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration, Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Information Technology.

In a memorandum dated June 9, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) lifted the moratorium on opening programs for the 3 courses:

1. Business Administration
   
   • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)
   • Master in Business Administration (MBA)
   • Doctor in Business Administration (DBA)
2. Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM)
   
   • Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (BSHRM)
   • Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management (BSHM)
   • Master of Science in Hospitality Management/Hotel and Restaurant Management (MSHM/MSHRM)
   • Doctor of Hotel and Restaurant Management/Hospitality Management (DHRM/DHHM)
3. Information Technology (IT) 
   • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT)
   • Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT)
   • Master in Information Technology (MIT)
   • Doctor of Information Technology (DIT)

In 2010, CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan released CHED Memorandum Order No 32, which imposed a moratorium on establishing new programs in 5 “oversubscribed” courses starting school year 2011-2012. (READ: ‘Unpopular’ courses: The road less traveled)

The memorandum stopped the creation of new undergraduate and graduate programs in the 5 major oversubscribed courses: business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management, and information technology.

Considerations

In lifting the moratorium on the 3 courses, CHED considered the continuous recruitment of the programs’ graduates and professionals by the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, the tourism industry, and the IT industry in the Philippines and abroad.

The Commission also noted the market uptrend and leadership position of the Philippines in the IT-BPO industry, the regional and global increase in labor mobility, and the international agreements on borderless economy.

There is also an emergence of new demand for competencies such as business analytics, CHED said.

Existing programs were monitored closely from 2011-2013 to make sure minimum requirements were being met. (READ: Ateneo to offer hospitality management courses by 2015)

Qualifications

Higher education institutions (HEIs) must meet any of the following qualifications before opening programs starting 2015:

1. Autonomous/deregulated status for private HEIs, and SUC Level III status for state universities and colleges
2. Center of Excellence/Center of Development (COE/COD) in the following programs: 
   
   • For Business Administration: COE/COD in  or COD in Tourism program 
   • For HRM: COE/COD in Business Administration or COD in Tourism program
   • For IT: COE/COD in Information Technology Education
3. Level II accredited status of programs from CHED-recognized accrediting agencies:

• For Business Administration, allied programs such as:
  
  • Public Administration
  • HRM/Hospitality Management
  • Tourism
  • Travel Management
  • Accountancy
  • Office Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Real Estate Management
  • Customs Administration
• For HRM, allied programs such as:
  
  • Business Administration
  • Public Administration
  • Tourism
  • Travel Management
  • Accountancy
  • Office Management
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Real Estate Management
• For IT: Computer Science of Information Systems

Qualified schools must file their application to open these programs with CHED regional offices.

The 2010 moratorium on opening new programs in education and nursing courses remains in place. – Rappler.com

Male worker vector  via Shutterstock
Hotel manager vector via Shutterstock
School building via Shutterstock