INTRODUCTION – 6th draft (April 29, 2014)
Regional Conference on Quality Assurance in Higher Education
Yogyakarta State University
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
May 5, 2014
Topic: Implementation of Quality Assurance in Higher Education in the
Philippines
To the officials of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Yogyakarta State
University, the Institute of Educational Development and Quality Assurance., fellow
educators and other conference delegates, Mabuhay!
We are gathered here today to discuss, share and learn about quality assurance
practices. I am grateful and thankful to Yogyakarta State University for inviting me
to share our experiences in the Philippines, particularly with my institution, De La
Salle University-Dasmarinas, with respect to quality assurance in higher education.
Let me begin by saying that quality assurance is not merely complying with a set of
standards nor is it just window dressing or sugar coating, quality assurance must be
an institutional and individual commitment in search for excellence. Quality
assurance therefore is a way of life, if we want our institution to grow, develop and
be the best among comparable institutions not just in the region but in the country
as well.
Quality assurance practice in higher education in the Philippines is almost 60 years
old. Its beginnings come from the initiative of several private and government
educational institutions to determine the quality of education they offer and to have
it reviewed by peers in the sector. My presentation today will provide you with an
overview of how quality assurance is practiced in the Philippines, what is its current
state, how is it done and what are its challenges.
At the onset, let me tell you that committing the institution and its personnel to a
quality standards system is the step in the right direction if we want our institution
to realize its full potential and for us to learn from peers and to set standards that we
will strive to achieve. There are no short cuts to a good result in a quality assurance
exercise. It is the product of the collective endeavors of the many men and women
in the school, it is fuelled by our desire to know where we stand and the passion to
achieve excellence.
I hope that at the end of my presentation and after our interaction, you will be
inspired to pursue quality assurance programs in your respective institutions. As a
quality assurance accreditor for almost two (2) decades, I have seen the rise and fall
of many institutions Those that rose, walked the talked, made significant
investments and strategized their programs and projects well. Those that failed were
complacent, in denial or simply ignored the findings of the reports. I hope that you
will all choose to be excellent, that you will all decide to engage in quality
assurance practice. It will all be worth it.
HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES:
Table 1. Distribution of Higher Education Institutions by Institution Type: AY 2011-12
Legend:
HEIs – Higher Education Institutions
SCUs - State Colleges and Universities
LUCs - Local Universities and Colleges
HOW QUALITY ASSURANCE IS CONDUCTED IN THE PHILIPPINES:
A typical higher education institution in the Philippines, private or public observes
quality assurance mechanism in two (2) ways:
PP 1. Internal quality Assurance (DLSU-D)
A. Creation of Institutional Offices
1. Planning Office (Presidential Management Office [PMO])
• Prepares the short and long term plans for the university
• Conducts administrators’ mid-year and year-end workshops,
plans and addresses the agenda/thrust of the Brother President for
the University. Strategic plans are attuned to the recommendations
of the accrediting agency (Philippine Accrediting Association of
Schools, Colleges & Universities [PAASCU])
2. Quality Assurance Office (QAO) – academics, operations, and
environment
• The participative-consultative type of management adopted by
the University necessitates the formation of the councils and
committees at different levels of management for the
implementation of strategic plans
• The QAO supervises, monitors and coordinates with all the
divisions (academics/research), administration and mission
programs/activities of the University in securing that accreditation
be sustained and enhanced.
3. Environmental Resource Management (ERMAC)
• Supervises, monitors the activities and projects of the University
campus environment, its welfare, safety and security, its
cleanliness and protection of the community to sustain/maintain
the eco-friendly environment.
PP
B. Quality Assurance Practices and Activities of the University
• Quality assurances practices are embedded in the over-all
University operations. These are emphasized during planning and
evaluation sessions of administrators.
• Existence of the Quality Assurance Office that coordinates all
quality assurance activities of the University.
• Involvement of all sectors in carrying out self-survey among
students, support staff, faculty members, alumni and administrators
• Creation of collegiate and institutional committees to do
self-survey activities.
• Presence of steering committee that oversees self-survey activities
• Very close coordination among academic departments and
colleges, administrative units and support committees.
• Carrying out regular meetings and discussions to further support
self-survey by best features and recommendations from the
perspective of all sectors.
• Putting premium on efficient documentation of developments,
programs, projects, and events.
• Holding orientation for new key personnel to ensure credibility of
QA efforts.
• Close coordination with PAASCU, the premiere accrediting
agency in the country.
PP
C.
Accreditation Profile
• 22 programs with Level IV PAASCU Accreditation
• The Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP)
granted DLSU-D LEVEL IV, the highest level of PAASCU
Accreditation in December 2011 in four (4) basic program of:
 Education
 Liberal Arts
 Science
 Business and Accountancy
• 1 program with Level II
• 5 programs due for formal survey in September 2014
• 10 graduate programs with Level II and 5 programs with Level I
Accreditation
As of School Year 2013-2014 (61%) of our 36 programs are PAASCU
accredited.
A. External Quality Assurance (DLSU-D)
In order to validate the activities/projects and strategies done by the university,
internal and external agencies are tasked to look into what we are doing inside
the university to see if we are in the right direction.
There are five (5) agencies that evaluate colleges and universities in the
Philippines. These agencies fall into two (2) federations/network of
accrediting agencies.
PP
PRIVATE HEI ACCREDITING AGENCIES
The Federation of Accrediting
Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP)
Philippine Accrediting
Association of
Schools, Colleges &
Universities
(PAASCU)
Philippine Association of
Colleges & Universities
Commission on
Accreditation
(PACUCOA)
Association of Christian Schools Colleges &
Universities
(ACSCU-AAI)
PP
PUBLIC HEI ACCREDITING AGENCIES
National Network of Quality Assurance Agencies
(NNQAA)
Accrediting Agency of
Chartered Colleges &
Universities in the
Philippines
(AACCUP)
Association of Local
Colleges &
Universities
Commission on
Accreditation
(ALCUCOA)
Of all these accrediting agencies, PAASCU is the oldest and most prestigious.
PAASCU was established on November 5, 1957. It is a service organization that
accredits programs which meet standards of quality education.
PP
PAASCU is a founding member of the following International
Organizations/Agencies:
 Institutional Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education
(INQAAHE)
 Asia-Pacific Quality Network (APQN)
and affiliated with:
 Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
 National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation
(NCFMEA)
In 1997, DLSU-D volunteered to have a self-survey evaluation using the PAASCU
instruments. In this way, we would like to continuously upgrade our institutions
educational quality and services through self-evaluation and the judgment of peers.
PP
Advantages/Benefits as Member of PAASCU
The accrediting agency:
1. Gives the institution and its administration a sense of direction based on a
clearer self-image, prestige for member schools.
2. Facilitates easy transfer of students and guides the parents and students in
the choice of worthy schools.
THE BENEFITS/INCENTIVES FOR LEVEL IV STATUS
PP
• Full administrative and financial (tuition and other fees/charges)
deregulation from Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
• Authority to revise the curriculum and to graduate students from
accredited courses/programs in the levels accredited without the issuance of
Special Orders (S.O.) by CHED.
• Given priority in the awards of grants/subsidies or funding assistance from
CHED.
• Right to use the word “ACCREDITED” on its publication/advertisement
pursuant to CHED policies and rules.
• Limited visitation, inspection and/or supervision by CHED supervisory
personnel or representatives.
• Grant of full autonomy for the program for the duration of its Level IV
accredited status.
• Right to offer new graduate programs allied to existing Level IV courses,
open learning/distance education and extension classes without need for
prior approval by CHED provided that the concerned CHED Regional
Office is duly informed.
PAASCU conducts both academics and institutional accreditation.
As of May 2013, there are 112 tertiary schools accredited by PAASCU including
9 medical schools and 14 graduate schools. Also, the basic education (elementary
and highschool) programs are also part of the PAASCU accreditation process.
PP
PROGRAMS ACCREDITED BY PAASCU
In 1957, PAASCU began accrediting in the tertiary level programs in Liberal Arts,
Education and Commerce. Presently, PAASCU accredits the following programs:
1. Liberal Arts/Sciences
2. Education
a. Elementary
b. Secondary
3. Business
4. Accountancy
5. Entrepreneurship
6. Computer Science
a. Information Technology
b. Information Management
c. Information Systems
7.Nursing
8. Pharmacy
9. Medical Technology
10. Hospitality Management
11. Travel and Tourism
12. Social Work
13. Agriculture
14. Criminal Justice
15. Engineering
a. Civil
b. Chemical
c. Computer
d. Electrical
e. Mechanical
f. Industrial
g. Electronics and Communications
h. Manufacturing Engineering and
Management
16. Radiologic Technology
17. Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy
18. Nutrition and Dietetics
19. Interior Design/ Fine Arts
20. Basic Medical Education
21. Graduate Education
a. Arts and Sciences
b. Education
c. Business Administration
d. Public Health
e. Nursing
AREAS EVALUATED IN THE SURVEY
PP
During the survey visit, the following areas are evaluated:
1. Purposes and Objectives
2. Community Involvement
3. Faculty
4. Instruction
5. Library
6. Laboratories
7. Physical Plant
8. Student Services
9. Administration
PP
OTHER ACCREDITATIONS WE RECEIVED:
1. Dark Green Status – granted 7 years accreditation by Dark Green School
(DGS) of the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines, Inc.
(EENP) on February 24, 2009.
• DLSU-D is the first University in the Philippines to be conferred a Dark
Green School status
• Dark Green School Program Accreditation Areas: (1) Policy (2)
Administration and Finance (3) Academics (4) Outreach/Extension (5)
Production. The confernment is an affirmation of the University’s
“effective integration of environmental concerns in its academic programs
and its continuing efforts to improve the environmental situation within its
community.
• European Union Accreditation. Ecoswitch is an Asiawide
Environmental Certification Programme of the European Union. In the
Philippines, it is known as the Green Philippines Island of Sustainability
(GPIOS) Project.
2. Granted by Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC) Board – a
five-year certification for donee institution status (May 20, 2010). The
Philippine Council for NGO Certification or PCNC is a private voluntary,
non-stock, non-profit corporation that serve as a service organization whose
main function is to certify non-profit organizations that meet established
minimum criteria for financial management and accountability in the service
to underprivileged Filipinos.
At present, more colleges and universities are seeking accreditation recognizing that
this quality assurance undertaking is the most effective way to undertake
improvements in order to achieve and eventually sustain the quality of their
academic programs and their institution as a whole.
PP
Let me end my presentation with a quotation “Quality is everyone’s responsibility
and we never have to stop getting better” – W.E. Deming-Jimena Calfa
SOURCE:
http://www.paascu.org.ph/home2012/?page_id=196
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/business/2013/08/10/pcnc-stress-strict-compliance-ngo-accredita
tion-297058
DLSU-D Quality Assurance Office
HE in Numbers – Higher Education Institutions
Higher Education Institutions
At present there are 2,299 higher education institutions (HEIs) in the country. Philippine HEIs can be
classified into two: public and private.
Public Higher Education Institutions
Six hundred fifty six (656), or 28.53%, of the total HEIs nationwide are public HEIs. 547 of these are state
universities and colleges (SUCs), 95 are local universities and colleges (LUCs), 1 is a CHED-Supervised
Institution, 5 are classified as special HEIs, while the remaining 8 are considered as other government schools.
State universities and colleges, or SUCs, are public higher education institutions established by law, administered
and financially subsidized by the government. SUCs have their own charters. The highest policy-making body of
a state university is the Board of Regents (BOR); for the state college, it is the Board of Trustees (BOT). The
CHED Chairperson heads all these boards.
On the other hand, local universities and colleges, or LUCs, are established by the local government units
(LGUs) through resolutions or ordinances. Financially, LUCs are supported by the local government concerned.
A CHED Supervised Institution (CSI) is a non-chartered, public, post-secondary education institution, established
by law, administered, supervised and financially supported by the government.
Special HEIs are public organizations offering higher education programs related to public service. Operated
and controlled in accordance with the special law that created these institutions, special HEIs are provide special
academic, research and technical assistance programs pursuant to the basic mandates of their parent agencies. The
Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), Philippine Military Academy (PMA), Philippine National
Police Academy (PNPA), Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), and National Defense College all fall under
this category. Classified as other government schools are public secondary and post-secondary
technical-vocational education institutions that offer higher education programs.
Private Higher Education Institutions
Private HEIs are established under the Corporation Code and are governed by the special laws and general
provisions of this Code. Non-sectarian private HEIs are duly incorporated, owned and operated by private entities
that are not affiliated to any religious organization; while sectarian private HEIs are usually non-stock, non-profit,
duly incorporated, owned and operated by a religious organization. Private HEIs accounts for 71.47% of the
higher education system, with a total number of 1,643 institutions – 1,296 are non-sectarian private while 347 are
sectarian HEIs.
Table 1. Distribution of Higher Education Institutions by Institution Type: AY 2011/12
Source: HE in Numbers – Higher Education Institutions