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
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.
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.
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.
The UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office (UPD QAO) held a post-assessment/accreditation meeting last December 12, 2023 at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism (AIT) Lounge with all the representatives of degree granting units (DGUs) that underwent program assessment and accreditation activities last November and December of 2023 as participants.
The UPD Quality Assurance Office (UPD QAO) started conducting pre-travel orientations in 2023 for the quality assurance officers to help them prepare for the trainings that they will undergo through the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).
Aligned with UP Diliman’s strategy of mainstreaming a culture of honor and excellence, two academic units, the College of Human Kinetics (CHK) and the National College of Public Administration and Governance (NCPAG), collaborated with the UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office (UPD QAO) to conduct Quality Assurance appreciation sessions for their faculty and staff in preparation for 2024 QA activities.
Five undergraduate programs of the UP Diliman College of Engineering (CoE) underwent the four-day accreditation visit by the Philippine Technological Council-Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (PTC-ACBET) last December 4-7, 2023.
UP Diliman geared up for the 364th ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) onsite assessment of four degree programs last November 21-23, 2023 in continuation of its efforts to acquire the AUN-QA certification of its degree programs.
Following the forum for their administrative and technical staff, the UP Diliman College of Engineering (COE) heads to the UP Bonifacio Global City (UP BGC) campus for their second quality assurance (QA) forum. COE Alumni and Industry partners gathered last November 8, 2023 at UP BGC to update them on the QA initiatives of the college and formally constitute the COE’s Alumni and Industry Advisory Council (AIAC).
