Overseas Filipino Workers in Dubai are being invited to join a new survey that will help Philippine authorities assess interest in a government program that converts work experience into a college degree.
The Department of Migrant Workers announced that the survey is being conducted through the National Reintegration Center for OFWs in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education.
The survey runs from January 12 to January 30, 2026.
OFWs based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among those encouraged to participate, alongside workers in Riyadh, Al Khobar, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka, Toronto, Vancouver, and Singapore.
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What the survey is for
According to DMW, the survey aims to measure overseas workers’ interest in the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program, or ETEEAP.
ETEEAP is a CHED-recognized pathway that allows qualified Filipinos to earn a Philippine college degree by accrediting verified work experience, professional training, and prior learning, instead of completing full traditional coursework.
Officials said the survey results will help guide future coordination with CHED-deputized higher education institutions, including identifying degree programs in demand and determining which schools may be prepared to accept overseas applicants.
Who may be interested
ETEEAP is open to Filipino citizens who are at least 25 years old and have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience related to the degree they intend to pursue. Experience may be continuous or accumulated across multiple employers.
Applicants are typically required to present verifiable employment records, detailed job descriptions, training certificates, and other documents that demonstrate competence in their field.
The program has drawn interest from long-term OFWs working in sectors such as construction, engineering, hospitality, logistics, information technology, healthcare support, education-related roles, and business services.
Dubai coordination and safeguards
In previous advisories, the Migrant Workers Office – Dubai has worked with Philippine agencies to disseminate information on ETEEAP and connect OFWs with legitimate, CHED-deputized institutions.
Authorities again reminded OFWs to be cautious of unaccredited facilitators or middlemen offering guaranteed degrees or fast-track approvals. Only CHED-deputized institutions are authorized to assess portfolios and award degrees under ETEEAP.
How to participate
The survey is being conducted online through an official Google Form released by DMW and CHED. Participation is voluntary and does not guarantee admission or degree approval.
Officials clarified that the survey is not an enrollment process, but an information-gathering step to support planning and policy decisions related to overseas applicants.
Here’s the link to the survey.