SLSU Joins Over 500 QA Champions in Manila to Strengthen Outcomes-Based Quality Assurance

Manila, Philippines — In a bold move to elevate the quality of higher education, Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) proudly participated in the Seminar-Workshop on Outcomes-Based Quality Assurance (OBQA) organized by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), Inc., held on July 9–11, 2025, at the Century Park Hotel.

The training gathered more than 520 quality assurance professionals from across the country—including new accreditors, internal quality auditors (IQAs), and non-teaching personnel—to strengthen institutional understanding and commitment to the OBQA framework for both program and institutional accreditation.

SLSU’s delegation included accreditation team members Dr. Sherwin G. Caday, Mr. Redney Solomon, and Dr. Melvin Sarsale, alongside QA officers from the non-teaching ranks: Reinelly Faith N. Gomba, Doryn Fatima T. Itchon, and Liezel A. Garzota. Their presence reinforced the university’s strategic push to empower all sectors, including administrative personnel, in contributing to the culture of quality.

AACCUP Executive Director, Dr. Milabel E. Ho, opened the seminar with a dynamic presentation tracing the evolution of AACCUP and its pivotal role in aligning local accreditation with global movements such as ISO standards, world rankings, COPCs, and institutional self-assessment. “ISO, World Rankings, Institutional Accreditation, COPC, and AACCUP all form part of quality assurance,” Dr. Ho emphasized, affirming the interconnectedness of quality efforts in Philippine higher education. She made a strong case for involving non-teaching staff in the QA process, recognizing their crucial administrative support in accreditation areas and documentation.

This was followed by Dr. Raul F. Muyong, Director IV of the Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance (OIQAG), who shared practical insights, real accreditation scenarios, and clarified the revised rating system, survey instruments, and benefits of accreditation.

AACCUP President and Board Chair, Dr. Anthony M. Penaso, delivered a technical yet highly relatable breakdown of the summary of findings, recommendations, and plan of action. Drawing from his own experience as an accreditor, he emphasized the need for coherence between evidence and implementation.

The highlight of the event was the presence of newly appointed CHED Chairperson, Hon. Shirley C. Agrupis, who introduced the ACHIEVE Agenda, CHED’s strategic roadmap for the next three years. In response to recent findings by EDCOM 2 on CHED’s underperformance over the past decades, Dr. Agrupis underscored the need for HEIs to adopt evidence-based decision-making to elevate instruction, research, extension, and infrastructure. “Institutions must fully embrace evidence-based decision making,” she asserted, positioning quality assurance as a key pillar of national development.

Culminating the three-day event was a collaborative workshop that allowed participants to apply theoretical knowledge into practice. Each group worked through simulated accreditation scenarios, exchanged insights, and reflected on current practices, producing a shared pool of ideas and innovations for institutional improvement.

SLSU’s participation in this national convergence of QA practitioners marks a renewed commitment to continuously enhance its systems and processes, ensuring that its programs remain relevant, compliant, and globally competitive. As the university moves forward, its inclusive approach, empowering both academic and non-academic personnel, proves essential in building a resilient and responsive culture of quality. This initiative supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing institutional capacity to deliver high-quality, outcomes-based education. It also advances SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) through evidence-based governance, and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by empowering non-teaching personnel as vital contributors to academic quality and operational excellence.