Quality management is a “virus” administrators would certainly wish upon their people.

Thus, as the Administrative Staff Program towards Institutional Resiliency and Excellence (ASPIRE) concluded a two-month training on Sept. 30, it urged its participants who it called “aspirants” to be infected by and to spread the quality management virus.

ASPIRE is a series of online synchronous and asynchronous training workshops designed to equip 50 participants from UPLB and UP Visayas (UPV) with necessary knowledge, mindset, and skills in developing and maintaining a Quality Management System (QMS) to level up productivity and efficiency of the University’s operations, customer services, and human resources.

Dr. Ariel C. Blanco of the UP College of Engineering and deputy executive director of the UP National Engineering Center (UP NEC) marked the last day of ASPIRE training-workshop sessions  as the beginning of new things.

He enjoined the “aspirants” to build awareness and desire for quality and improvement of their respective units after they gained confidence to be prime movers and champions of quality.

This was supported by Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, UPLB quality assurance officer and director of the Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU).

In her message, Dr. Cadiz reminded the participants to execute what they learned and to impart them to colleagues who are considered the backbone of the University. She also emphasized the value of quality, saying that there is a price to pay to attain high quality standards.

Similarly, Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla, vice chancellor for academic affairs of UPV, urged the “aspirants” to implement the proposals they submitted and expressed his support for their implementation. He said that quality assurance is a work in progress, a process, and a mindset that will enable UP to carry out its mandate and mission and vision.

The graduating participants were then presented by Mr. Pepito T. Dizon, University Extension Specialist of the UP National Engineering Center, to the organizing and partner institutions. This was followed by the awarding of certificates of completion to the graduates and the announcement of special awards.

Group 1 from UPLB, composed of Jocelyn G. Cordez, Maria Theresa B. Depoco, Airish N. Dimapilis, Caroline P. Khe, and Aprilyn R. Ramos, won the Best in Philippine Quality Assurance (PQA) Case Study Award.

The Most Promising Proposal Award was given to Group 4 of UPLB, composed of Maria Kristina C. Biasong, Leslie G. Bolaños, Maria Luisa G. Mendoza, Dante P. Ocampo, and Rowena C. Perez, whose project is entitled, “Readmission of Dismissed Students for First-Time

Dismissal”  and Group 7 of UPV, composed of Julie Ann H. Cala-or, Melany T. Calcaben, Rosemarie M. Canson, Ma. Juno Genesila, Sharon Rose G. Niog, and Ma. Nelce T. Taleon  who came up with “Procurement Process for Big and Small-Ticket Items (Alternative Mode of Procurement of Goods).”

Group 3 of UPLB composed of Quintina D. Camunias, Ruth J. delos Reyes, Beata Axea D. Iranzo, Sheryl B. Posadas, and Danilo A. Santiago  and Group 7 of UPV were given special recognition as runners-up under the Top Performing Groups Award. Group 4 of UPLB and Group 8 of UPV (Liza J. Selibio, Ma. Edna G. Sevilla, Amytess N. Solfis, and Roeyna May F. Tosino) bagged this award.

Leslie G. Bolaños, student records evaluator and quality manager of the UPLB Graduate School, and Roeyna May F. Tosino, university extension associate  of UPV’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, responded on behalf of the graduates. Through their narratives, they expressed their experience with ASPIRE, the challenges they encountered during the training period, and their personal goals after its completion.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Aura C. Matias, program manager of ASPIRE and director of UP Diliman Academic Assessment and Development Office (AADO), challenged the “aspirants” “to continue the quality journey in their respective workplaces by identifying pain points in procedures and offering creative solutions to make work efficient and effective.”

Dr. Matias said that doing this will lead to a resilient and excellent UP. Finally, she encouraged “aspirants” to spread the “quality management virus”.

Maria Rea F. Bunuan, university extension specialist of UP NEC, successfully hosted the ASPIRE UPLB & UPV Closing and Graduation Ceremonies.

ASPIRE was a collaborative effort of UPD AADO, UPLB AADU, UPV, and UP NEC. It was conducted on a broken schedule for 10 days over the past two months of August and September. (KAEBlanco)