It is indeed safe to say that the first QAhusayan Fair of the UP Diliman (UPD) Quality Assurance Office (QAO) successfully ended with a loud bang.
The fair, with the theme Empowering Excellence through a Culture of Quality and held from Sept. 7 to 11 in various UP Diliman (UPD) locations, aimed to highlight academic units and individuals who have shown exemplary performance in accomplishing quality assurance (QA) activities.
One of the fair’s highlights was a poster presentation. Two projects embracing digital technologies to improve processes and one project to repair and restore a decade-old telescope emerged as the Best Poster Presentations among 20 entries.
The posters were Project H.O.M.E.: A Harmonized Online Management Ecosystem for Transparency, Accessibility, and Engagement of the Department of Home Economics Education (DHEED / Project H.O.M.E.); AIT (Asian Institute of Tourism) Embracing Digital Transformation @50: Online Internal File Tracking System and Venue Reservation Platforms (AIT Digital Transformation); and Bringing the Stars Back: Cost-Effective Repair, Restoration, and Smart Automation of the 40-cm UP NISMED Telescope (National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development / Bringing the Stars Backs).
Project H.O.M.E. was presented by Aurora S. Llige, PhD, an associate professor at the DHEED; AIT Digital Transformation was presented by Sarah Andres L. Briones, a university research associate at the AIT; and Bringing the Stars Backs was presented by Anthony Guiller E. Urbano, a science education specialist at NISMED.
UPD Vice Chancellor for Administration Adeline A. Pacia said the poster presentations display the breadth and diversity of QA initiatives present in UPD.
“The poster presentations have shown us that there is no single way to pursue quality. It can mean rethinking a long-standing practice, finding a better way to deliver a service, responding to the needs of our students, strengthening an academic program, improving a system, or simply recognizing that something can be done better,” she said. “Some efforts may be ambitious, far-reaching, and well-established, while others began with a small but meaningful change. What they share is a willingness to look our work with fresh eyes and find ways to improve it,” Pacia added.
The three poster presentations garnered the highest scores among the poster presentations that showcased the best of UPD’s achievements in QA, innovations, and best practices.
These were evaluated by a three-person panel composed of Manuel Joseph Loquias, Dr. Mathematics, College of Science associate dean for academic affairs; Sharon Esposo-Betan, head librarian of the College of Engineering Library; and Summer Libelle Espiritu, chairperson of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy Student Council. They represented the members of the faculty, staff, and students.
Apart from the three best poster presentations, seven others were given special citations as Sustainability Champion, Design and Detail, Stakeholder Centricity, People Driven Impact, Innovation Breakthrough, and People’s Choice.
Awarded the Sustainability Champion Special Citation was From Access to Impact: Transforming Library Services through Quality Improvement (Systematizing Research Support, Digital Access, and Patron Engagement at the UP MSI [Marine Science Institute] Library), presented by Ronally Anne G. Dela Mata-Tabo, university extension associate at the MSI.
The Design and Detail Special Citation went to Pandayan: Three-level Library Orientation and Instruction Program A Research Support Service of the College of Home Economics (CHE) Library, presented by CHE Librarians Grace A. Garcia and Nikko Angelo D. Lastimosa.
Skip the Lines! Book your PEHA Online! received the Stakeholder Centricity Special Citation and was presented by UP Health Service Director Oliva S. Basuel.
Awarded the People Driven Impact Special Citation was QAhusayan in Practice: Strengthening Systems and Support at UPSLIS (School of Library and Information Studies), presented by Ferlito G. Arceo, a Quality Assurance Office staff at the SLIS.
Meanwhile, The UP Diliman Smart CCTV Initiative: Empowering a Secure, Open Campus through Centralized Surveillance and Ethical Data Governance, presented by Public Safety and Security Office Director Arwin Z. Ledesma, received the Innovation Breakthrough Special Citation.
Finally, awarded the People’s Choice Special Citation were Kalinga sa Saliksik: Enriching BS FLCD Students’ Research Experience through an Integrated Support System (Kalinga sa Saliksik) and Honor and Excellence Within and Beyond the Archipelago: Integrating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability to Lipad-Aral International Student Exchange Program (Honor and Excellence Within and Beyond the Archipelago).
Kalinga sa Saliksik was presented by Charla Rochella S. Saamong, PhD and John Robert G. Betic, an associate professor and a project assistant at the CHE, respectively; while Honor and Excellence Within and Beyond the Archipelago) was presented by Ronel O. Laranjo and Aura Fe Julia S. Carbonilla, staff members at the Office of International Linkages Diliman.
Each of the winners received a special token and a certificate. Special citation recipients each received a PHP2,000 additional prize, while the best poster presentation winners each received a PHP10,000 additional prize, at the closing ceremonies at the College of Social Work and Community Development on Sept. 11 and graced by Pacia and QAO Director Evangeline C. Amor, among others.