Two more degree programs of UPLB have received certification as accredited programs under the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA). 

The BS Chemical Engineering (BS ChE) and the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree programs bring to seven the number of degree programs in UPLB that have received AUN-QA certification.

UPLB received word of the certification on Dec. 16, 2020, less than two months after the two programs underwent online AUN-QA assessment from Oct. 26 to 30.

According to Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, director of the Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) of UPLB, the accreditation gives the UPLB degree programs an edge in terms of competitiveness in the ASEAN and facilitates mobility of students in universities in the region. 

It also gives UPLB graduates an advantage in the job market and shores up the university’s world ranking as a higher education institution. 

Accreditation with AUN-QA signifies that a program adheres to international academic standards and is at par with its counterparts in other ASEAN universities. 

Dr. Cadiz who facilitated the first ever AUN-QA accreditation in UPLB for the BS Biology degree program, said that next in UPLB’s horizon are the certification of two undergraduate and two graduate degree programs.

“We also have to consider the renewal of certification of BS Biology, BS Agricultural Biosystems Engineering (BSABE), and BS Development Communication in 2022,” she added.

Dr. Jovencio Hubert Abalos, assistant to the dean and coordinator of the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) for the AUN-QA certification, said that several factors went into the successful bid for an AUN-QA certification.

According to him, one is the CVM’s well-established program that is looked up to by other veterinary medicine schools in the Philippines.

“The DVM program learning outcomes (PLO) are consistent with the learning outcomes of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and were developed in consultation with stakeholders,” Dr. Abalos explained.

Similarly, the BS Chem Eng PLOs were assessed to be comprehensive and to have covered the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes of graduates. 

This is according to Dr. Myra Borines, OIC-dean and coordinator of the College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology (CEAT) for the AUN-QA certification.   

The DVM program, according to Dr. Abalos, was also evaluated as having rigorous selection standards for its students, monitoring their progress up to the licensure examination as the final assessment, and has the strong complement of academic staff who are actively doing research and publishing internationally, a competent support staff, and adequate facilities.

The other strengths of the BS ChE program that were highlighted in the assessment are its outcomes-based education orientation, courses that have been introduced to enhance students’ capability in innovation and industry research, and academic staff who have mastery in teaching and are productive in research.

Dr. Abalos also pointed out that moving forward, CVM will capitalize on the strengths of the DVM program to address what it needs to become the premier veterinary institution in Asia-Pacific, one that is recognized for being world-class and for producing service-oriented veterinary professionals. 

Dr. Borines said that CEAT will not only apply the recommendations of the assessment team to the BS Chem Eng program, but also to its other programs to prepare them for AUN-QA certification and the BSABE program, for external accreditation with other bodies such as the Washington Accord.

The AUN-QA team was composed of Dr. Yahaya Md. Sam of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Dr.Kageeporn Wongpreedee of Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand for BS ChE, while Dr. Ngo Van Thuyen of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, Vietnam and Dr. Porngarm Virutamasen of Srinakharinwirot University assess DVM. (JMBo)