UPD QAO, DGUs benchmarked by PUP and CMU for best practices
  • Written by: Erick Prynze I. Sazon and Charles Jason C. Ramos
  • Photo/Video by: Arlyh Hirao & Michael Baguisa

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SDG 4 - Quality Education
SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

University officials and academic and non-academic staff from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and Central Mindanao University (CMU) visited the University of the Philippines Diliman last August 9, 2024 to meet with degree-granting units (DGUs) and the Quality Assurance Office (QAO) to know more about QA structures in higher education and best practices for external assessment. The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Quality Assurance Center sought guidance from the Department of English and Comparative Literature (DECL) and Departamento ng Filipino at Panitikan ng Pilipinas (DFPP) of the College of Arts and Letters (CAL) and the Department of Journalism of the College of Mass Communication (CMC) with regard to their designation as Center of Excellence for Literature (English and Filipino) and Center of Excellence in Journalism, respectively, by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) in 2015. On the other hand, the Central Mindanao University (CMU) Office of Quality Assurance expressed interest in pursuing program assessment through the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).

L-R (1st Row) Prop. Jocson (CAL-DFPP), Professor Emeritus Dr. Lily Rose Tope (CAL-DECL), L-R (2nd Row) Asst. Prof. Tangi (CMC-DJourn), and Prof. Ick (CAL-DECL) shared best practices with the PUP delegation

UPD QAO Director Aura C. Matias shared the QA structure of UP and experiences during the AUN-QA program assessment visits with the Central Mindanao University delegation

In the morning, QAO Director Aura C. Matias and staff welcomed the representatives from PUP, led by Prof. Rebecca E. Palma, the Assistant Director for International and Institutional Quality Assurance of the Quality Assurance Center. Assoc. Prof. Christ Michael C. Atienza, Chief for Institutional Accreditation and Sustainability, Assoc. Prof. Luisito L. Lacatan, Chief for Continuous Quality Improvement, Assoc. Prof. Mary Grace F. Yebra, Chief for International Quality Assurance, Dr. Rafael Michael O. Paz, Dean of College of Arts and Letters, and Ms. Emelie D. Taton, administrative staff, joined the PUP delegation. Representing CAL-DECL were Dr. Judy Celine Ick, the Department Chairperson, and Professor Emeritus Dr. Lily Rose Tope. Prof. Schedar D. Jocson and Prof. Maynard Manansala represented CAL-DFPP, while Asst. Prof. Lucia P. Tangi represented the CMC Department of Journalism as resource persons.

QAO Director Aura Matias and PUP QAC Asst. Director Rebecca Palma exchanged institutional gifts
Photo opportunity of Polytechnic University of the Philippines Quality Assurance Center delegation with UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office and CAL-DFPP

CMU’s purpose for requesting the benchmarking meeting is for its plans to undergo program assessment through the AUN-QA. The delegation was particularly interested in the preparatory activities and experiences of the Institute of Biology and School of Statistics. The delegates from CMU were composed of Mr. Bienvenido M. Butanas, Jr., Director of the Office of Quality Assurance, Mr. Erwin P. Ambasa, Asst. Director, and Ms. Charlyn C. Losaria and Ms. Fatima Grace B. Lagua, the staff from the Office of Quality Assurance. Also with them were Ms. Cheryl C. Cordova, the Director of Office of Admission Scholarships & Placements, Ms. Ruby Española, a faculty member of the College of Engineering, Ms. Marivir M. Ortega, a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences-Department of Mathematics, Mr. Zeus S. Elumba, a faculty member of the College of Arts and Sciences-Department of Biology, and Ms. Jenyliza T. Ucang, a faculty member of the College of Education.

BenchmarkingPUP&CMU9
Central Mindanao University delegation with UPD QAO Director Aura C. Matias during the exchange of institutional gifts

Aside from the specific topics that these institutions expressed interest in, Director Matias also shared the quality assurance structure of UP. As the national university, UP has a mandate to welcome and share its knowledge to state universities and colleges (SUCs) and other higher education institutions (HEIs) in their pursuit of academic excellence.

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