The University of Santo Tomas (UST) had just received the stamp of approval from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) University Network – Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) group, becoming only the second university in the Philippines and the 8th in the world to receive the Institutional Certification.
The UST report indicates that the Dominican-run institution is the first associate member to receive the Institutional Certification among the 120 member institutions of the AUN-QA.
The UST Office of the Rector confirmed receiving the ASEAN Quality Seal for UST on January 13, 2020. Rector Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., PhD himself revealed the news during a testimonial luncheon marking the end of his rectorship last January 15.
The UST, holding the distinction of being Asia’s oldest existing university, passed all four areas assessed by AUN-QA, namely Strategic QA, Systemic QA, Functional QA, and Results.
The AUN-QA team of assessors visited UST from October 21-25, 2019. A self-assessment report and other supporting documents were submitted to the assessors, who came from regional universities such as the National University of Singapore, University of Malaya and Universitas Indonesia.
Dr. Clarita D. Carillo, Assistant to the Rector for Planning and Quality Management, said that said the five-year institutional certification would further enhance the University’s reputation and standing among Higher Education Institutions (HEI) in the 10-member ASEAN bloc.
“To be the 8th institution to have been…certified facilitates the opening of more doors of opportunities for UST in terms of internationalization, networking, academic and research collaboration, faculty and student exchange, student internship, and many others. It also heightens our participation in the educational aspect of the ASEAN integration,” said Professor Carillo.
Carillo, who led the efforts to secure the certification for UST, told The Varsitarian that the feat as the culmination of centuries-worth of preparation by administrative and academic units of the UST.
The ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) network is a group of Chief Quality Officers (CQOs) appointed by the AUN member universities as the focal point for coordinating activities to realize the mission of harmonizing educational standards and seeking continuous improvement of academic quality of universities in ASEAN.
They provide a series of guidelines to promote the development of a quality assurance system as instruments for maintaining, improving and enhancing teaching, research and the overall academic standards of AUN member universities. UST became an associate member in 2016.
In 2017, De La Salle University Manila became the first Philippine university to get the ASEAN QA certification.
UST graduates have topped various licensure examinations including Nursing, Engineering, and CPA board exams.
SEND CONGRATULATIONS in the comments below to the UST community for this milestone Quality Seal from the ASEAN University Network!
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