THE United States (US) government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) launched a five-year P1.6-billion ($30 million) initiative on Feb. 20, 2024 that will help Philippine higher education become more globally competitive by strengthening innovation, workforce development and entrepreneurship in colleges and universities.

The US Embassy in Manila said President Joseph Biden and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. jointly announced this initiative called the US-Philippines Partnership for Skills, Innovation and Lifelong Learning (Upskill) program during Marcos's visit to the White House in May 2023.