GSC director appointed as CHED chairperson for IT technical panel
Caption: Dr. Dave E. Marcial, director of the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center,
receives his Certificates of Appointment as chairperson of the Technical Panel for Information
and Technology and as member of the Technical Panel for Computing and Information
Technology.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has appointed Dr. Dave E. Marcial, director of the Dr. Mariano C. Lao Global Studies Center, as chairperson of the Technical Panel for Information Technology (IT) from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2028.
He has also been named a member of the Technical Panel for Computing and Information Technology, the umbrella panel for IT education in the Philippines.
The CHED Technical Panel serves as an advisory and recommendatory body for IT and related programs. Its responsibilities include formulating a five-year roadmap for IT education; developing and updating Policies, Standards, and Guidelines (PSGs), including monitoring and evaluation tools; and revising policies on Centers of Development and Excellence. Additionally, the panel conducts public consultations on proposed PSGs, orients, and trains technical evaluators, and participates in CHED-organized monitoring and evaluation visits to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Panel members also represent CHED in activities requiring technical expertise.
Marcial considers the appointment a great opportunity that carries with it immense responsibilities. “We are navigating an educational landscape defined by rapid innovations such as the Philippine Skills Framework, micro-credentialing, and the AI-driven knowledge economy—all of which are intertwined with global rankings and international accreditation,” he said.
Highlighting the diverse composition of the seven-member panel, which includes representatives from industry, government agencies, and academic leaders from various universities, Marcial said, “I believe teamwork and collaboration with all stakeholders will be the key.”
Marcial is the former dean of the SU College of Computer Studies. His involvement with CHED began in 2015 when he was first appointed as a member of its Technical Committee. Prior to his current role, he also served as a member of the Regional Quality Assurance Team in Region 7. He is a former president of the Philippine Society for Information Technology Educators (PSITE). During his term, the PCS Information and Computing Accreditation Board (PICAB) was established, with PSITE as one of its founding members. PICAB is a Provisional Member of the Seoul Accord. Dr. Marcial is also a board member of the Computing Society of the Philippines. He is the founding executive director of the Association of ICT in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. His extensive experience and dedication to higher education quality assurance make him an asset to the panel.
