The UP Diliman Quality Assurance (UPD QAO) brought together 26 Quality Assurance Officers from various degree-granting units (DGUs) of UP Diliman at the recently held QA Clinic at the Training Hall of the School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP) last September 09, 2024. For this quarter, the QA Clinic aims to revisit the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Framework and Life Cycle of QA Activities, present the revised QA Competency Development Framework, and give the QA Officers a first-look to the Academic Program Improvement (API) Portal.
Speakers of the QA Clinic – Director Matias of the UPD QAO, Kelvin Mendoza of the Internal Quality Assurance Team, and Ms. Sam Solis of the API Portal Development Team
Kelvin Mendoza, University Extension Specialist III of the Internal Quality Assurance Team facilitated the revisit of the Lifecycle of QA Activities framework initially presented during the 1st QA Clinic last April (see article), mapping out QA activities in each stage of the Program Lifecycle (institution, implementation, revision, and abolition). A survey was conducted on the status of fifteen (15) QA-related activities from the framework. Insights were drawn and presented to the participants, highlighting some observations on the implementation of these programs. This led to a discussion on challenges encountered, support needed, and best practices of the DGUs through which UPD QAO Director Aura Matias emphasized the importance of database systems and keeping past data, synchronizing the timing of leadership and the timing of the iAADS, and foresight for the next cycles. To summarize the session, the participants were reminded that consistent performance across all activities is key to reaching our strategic QA targets.
Director Matias then presented the Revised QA Competency Development Framework as a career path for faculty members to develop their competencies, become leaders, and contribute effectively to the University through QA work. She likened the framework to a ladder – each step an advancement in knowledge, skills, experience, and competencies (core, functional, and technical). Starting from being Implementation Partners to becoming Quality Experts, QA officers will eventually be tapped as external reviewers, as part of the QA Committee, or as director of the QA Office. Director Matias also highlighted the importance of mentorship and encouraging younger faculty to take interest and be part of the University’s QA journey.
For the Academic Program Improvement (API) Portal User Training, developer Ms. Sam Solis, together with project team leader Asst. Prof. Pierre Allan Villena, presented the portal’s core features and supplemental features. The portal was developed with the objective of reducing turnaround time of application to release of results, automating project management, and assisting unit heads and project leaders in determining timelines and disbursements. Once officially released, QA Officers will be able to submit their API applications through the portal. Proponents can look forward to the deliberations this November, with target release of application results by December. The project management modules, which constitute the 2nd phase of the API portal development, are underway and will go live next year.
QA officers and QA practitioners sharing practices and insights from their respective units
Other concerns were also raised during the QA Clinic such as the allotment of Administrative Leave Credits (ALCs), validating and saving information in the iAADS portal, and the institutionalization of the QA Officer position and entitlements.
The QA Clinics provide a venue for the QA Office to provide directions, gather feedback, check on the implementation of QA activities in the respective DGUs, and identify action plans to ensure that the University can deliver the QA strategic goals set at the start of the year.
The UP Diliman College of Engineering, in partnership with UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office, successfully conducted the week-long CoE Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Writing Workshop on August 10-14, 2026, targeting the continuous quality improvement of their graduate degree programs.
The BS Biology and BS FLCD programs of UP Diliman successfully underwent the 504th AUN-QA Programme Assessment on July 21-23, 2026, together with the Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics and the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Arts programs of UP Mindanao.
The University of the Philippines Diliman marked another significant step in its journey toward ISO 21001 Educational Organization Management System (EOMS) Certification with the successful conduct of ISO 21001 EOMS Awareness Orientation and Risk Management Training on April 6 and 13, 2026.
The undergraduate degree programs of the College of Media and Communication (CMC)—Journalism, Film, Broadcast Media Arts and Studies, and Communication Research—successfully completed the 4th External Quality Review Visit on April 21 to 23, 2026.
UPD QAO successfully concluded the 2026 Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Writing Workshop pilot program, with UP Diliman Institute of Chemistry (IChem) and UP Manila Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (DPSM) completing the three-day onsite lecture workshop on March 9, 16, and 23, 2026.
The Bachelor of Science programs in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mining Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, and Materials Engineering completed the 61st interim review visit of the PTC-ACBET last March 23-24, 2026, at UP Diliman.