UP Diliman (UPD) units and personnel were recognized for their quality assurance (QA)-related accomplishments at the recent Kahusayan: Seremonya ng Pagkilala sa Kagalingan sa QA, the culminating activity of the QA Week 2024.
UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II lauded the UPD Quality Assurance Office (QAO) for its efforts in bringing together different stakeholder groups “who are all instrumental in promoting and sustaining the culture of quality in the University, especially the heads of units, quality assurance officers, and administrative staff and REPS [research, extension, and professional staff].”
He added, “As we have echoed so many times, QA is not just a process. It is a shared responsibility that reflects our collective commitment to uphold the highest standards of excellence. Your diligence in developing and implementing QA measures within your respective units play a vital role in maintaining the integrity and credibility of our institution—a task that we take seriously as the national university.”
The first to be recognized were the academic programs that were accredited and had undergone external assessment.
Two undergraduate programs and one graduate program were accredited by the University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA): BS hotel, restaurant, and institution management and MS food science of the College of Home Economics (CHE), and BA political science of the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, the first CSSP program to receive such a distinction.
CHE’s BS food technology was accredited by the International Union of Food and Science Technology.
Meanwhile, six College of Engineering (COE) BS programs were assessed by the Philippine Technological Council-Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology: chemical engineering, industrial engineering, materials engineering, mechanical engineering, metallurgical engineering, and mining engineering; while the AUN-QA assessed the BS tourism program of the Asian Institute of Tourism.
Next came the recognition of units. The UP College of Law (UP Law) and the Natural Sciences Research Institute were recognized for receiving their ISO 9001:2015 certification.
The Supply and Property Management Office was honored for receiving the Government Best Practices Recognition in 2023 for their online systems. The award is given by the Development Academy of the Philippines.
Academic and administrative units which were visited by other educational institutions for benchmarking activities were also honored: CHE Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Education (CEd), College of Social Work and Community Development (CSWCD) Department of Social Work, Ugnayan ng Pahinungod, Office for the Advancement of Teaching, and the Office of Student Projects and Activities.
Faculty members who finished training from the AUN-QA were the next to be recognized.
They were the QA officers of academic units that finished AUN-QA Tier 1 training (College of Architecture, CEd, COE, CHE, College of Human Kinetics / CHK, School of Labor and Industrial Relation (SOLAIR), UP Law, College of Mass Communication / CMC, College of Music / CMu, National College of Public Administration and Governance /NCPAG, College of Science, CSWCD, and School of Urban and Regional Planning); the AUN-QA Tier 2 training (Cesar E.A. Virata of School of Business, CEd, CHE, School of Library and Information Studies, and CMC); and the AUN-QA Tier 3 training (College of Arts and Letters, CSSP, and AIT).
Also recognized was the QA officer from the AIT, the only one that completed the Self-Assessment Report Writing Workshop.
They were followed by QA officers who finished the UP System External Reviewers Training. They came from CEd, CHE, CHK, CMu, NCPAG, CSSP, and UPD Extension Programs in Pampanga and Olongapo.
Vistan, QAO Director Aura C. Matias, and UP Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Quality Assurance) Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay handed the certificates during the recognition ceremony.
Also present were COE Dean Maria Antonia N. Tanchuling, CHE Dean Shirley V. Guevarra, SPMO Director Rachel A. Locsin, and Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Director Jowima Ang-Reyes who gave testimonials about their QA journey.
In closing, Matias said, “We will continue rolling out information caravans to the colleges to bring QA closer to our faculty members and support staff.… QA is not additional work, but rather it is part of our responsibility as delivering units.”
The event, held at the School of Economics auditorium, was organized by the QAO.
