Abstract

Private academic institutions in the Philippines improve higher education by offering flexible, creative programs that meet student needs and connect education to careers. To be competitive, these institutions need future-proofing measures to adapt to change. This descriptive-correlational study examined how a private institution and its branch in Laguna, Philippines, used these tactics. A survey of 35 middle managers (deans, department heads, and program coordinators) examined the relationship between future-proofing and institutional sustainability. All five future-proofing criteria were “excellent,” with curricular innovation scoring best. Student achievement and academic program relevance were "extremely good" for institutional sustainability. A substantial correlation exists between future-proofing approaches and institutional sustainability (r = 0.754, p < 0.001), indicating that better implementation leads to better sustainability outcomes. Future-proofing indicators did not differ by demography, although perceived sustainability did vary by age group (F (5) = 3.261, p =.019). Respondents shared practical, real-world methods for institutional resilience. The findings will inform private higher education policy and administration to prepare institutions for a changing educational environment.