ILOILO CITY — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is rolling out a nationwide policy limiting artificial intelligence-generated content in academic papers, theses and dissertations to 20 percent, as it pushes universities to embrace emerging technologies without compromising academic integrity and the indispensable role of human educators.
CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis disclosed the policy during the 2026 CHED and SEAMEO RIHED Higher Education Week in Iloilo City, stressing that artificial intelligence (AI) must serve as a tool to strengthen teaching, research and learning rather than replace human intelligence.
The policy, established through a Commission Memorandum Order (CMO), provides a national framework for the responsible integration of AI across higher education institutions (HEIs).
“We, in the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), together with our government sector, we issued a CMO on the national polices on the use of AI. It is now being used as a framework of all Higher Education Institutions. We should not go beyond 20% as much as possible in the use of AI on the use of AI in the narratives and thesis dissertations etc,” Dr. Agrupis said.
The CHED chief emphasized that the policy is not intended to discourage technological innovation but to establish safeguards against excessive dependence on AI-generated academic work.
Instead, the commission wants universities and colleges to integrate AI into instruction, research and community extension to remain competitive in an increasingly technology-driven educational landscape.
“Yes, of course. We encourage the use of artificial intelligence because if we don’t encourage the use of AI in all the core functions of the university instruction, research, and extension- we will be left behind,” she said.
$1-TRILLION AI OPPORTUNITY
Agrupis underscored the urgency of preparing higher education institutions for technological transformation, citing the enormous economic potential of AI across Southeast Asia.
Quoting the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia’s (ERIA) 2025 study, Harnessing AI for ASEAN’s Future, she said artificial intelligence could contribute between 10 percent and 18 percent of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ gross domestic product by 2030.
The projected economic contribution could approach $1 trillion, highlighting the growing importance of AI in regional economic development and workforce competitiveness.
However, Agrupis warned that Southeast Asia still faces a significant preparedness gap, noting that only six ASEAN member states have published explicit national AI strategies.
Beyond technological disruption, she identified climate change, geopolitical instability, shifting demographics and changing perceptions of the value of university degrees as major challenges confronting higher education.
These developments, she said, require universities to continuously modernize their educational systems and equip students with skills suited to an increasingly unpredictable global environment.
The CHED chief’s remarks came during the four-day 2026 CHED and SEAMEO RIHED Higher Education Week, held from October 13 to 16 at SotoGrande Hotel in Iloilo City.
Organized in partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED), the gathering forms part of activities supporting the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026.
The international event brought together education policymakers, university presidents, researchers and regional delegates from Southeast and East Asia to develop strategies for future-ready higher education.
Following the 34th SEAMEO RIHED Governing Board Meeting on October 13, participants convened for the Regional Policy Conference on Future-Ready Higher Education on October 14.
Discussions focused on digital transformation, future workforce skills, quality assurance, internationalization and regional student mobility./PN
