Throughout the different training programs and communications related to quality assurance (QA), the UPD Quality Assurance Office (UPD-QAO) has always emphasized the importance of aligning stakeholders and working together to achieve its strategic objectives. This is one of the main goals of the first-ever General Assembly of Quality Assurance Officers of UP Diliman held last June 15, 2023 at the GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium. The General Assembly gathered sixty (60) of UP Diliman’s QA Officers and gave them a venue to learn more about QA in UP Diliman, meet fellow quality ambassadors, and share feedback on their quality journeys.
UP Diliman Quality Assurance Officers with UP AVP for Academic Affairs (Quality Assurance) Peleo-Alampay,
UPD Chancellor Vistan, UPD QAO Director after the Commitment Signing
The event started with the signing of the QA Officers Commitment Pledge led by Officer-in-Charge for the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OIC-OVCAA) Prof. Percival F. Almoro, PhD, where the QA Officers committed to actively support the creation and development of a quality culture across all academic programs and contribute positively to the attainment of national and global sustainable development goals. UP Assistant Vice-President for Academic Affairs-Quality Assurance (AVPAA-QA) Prof. Alyssa Peleo-Alampay, PhD, UPD Chancellor Prof. Edgardo Carlo Vistan, LLM, and UPD QAO Director Prof. Aura C. Matias joined the QA officers in the signing of the commitment.
Commitment to Quality’ signed by AVPAA-QA Peleo-Alampay and UP Diliman Officials
A Quality Assurance Officer from the Science and Technology Cluster signing the commitment board
The QA Officers Commitment Pledge reads as follows:
We, Quality Assurance Officers, recognize the crucial role of establishing quality assurance mechanisms to support the culture of academic excellence in the university.
We affirm the commitment of UP to creating and sustaining a quality culture in all academic programs;
Towards this end, we commit to working actively with our stakeholders to deliver academic offerings that are responsive to the requirements of industry, and produce graduates that are engaged in contributing positively to the attainment of national and global sustainable development goals.
UP QA leaders also shared some insights to the QA officers in their respective sessions. AVPAA-QA Peleo-Alampay presented the history and current state of QA in the country and in the University. In her session, she emphasized the importance of QA officers’ roles in supporting the goals of the university through implementation of Internal and External QA activities.
QAO Director, Aura C. Matias shared how UPD QAO of the support needed by the QA Officers to fulfill their roles as Quality Ambassadors
Later on, Director Matias shared how UPD QAO is aware of the support needed by the QA Officers to fulfill their new roles as quality ambassadors. Through the QA Competency Development Framework, gaps on QA awareness across the different levels of organization will be addressed by five (5) strategic training interventions: Leadership Excellence in Academic Development (LEAD) and Institutional Strategic Planning for Innovation, Research, and Education (INSPIRE) for university leaders and faculty administrators, Administrative Staff Program for Institutional Resiliency and Excellence (ASPIRE) for staff, and Internal Quality Assurance Orientation aimed at Advancing Quality in the Organization (IQAO@AQO) and Internal Mentoring for Quality Assurance (IMQA) for QA Officers.
The general assembly is among the action plans under the IQAO@AQO program, alongside external training on ISO QMS, TrainIQA, and EU-SHARE among others, supporting the development of an internal pool of highly competent quality assurance officers for the University.
