QAO matters

UPLB challenged to have a quality mind-set

The pursuit for quality is a continuous and astute aspiration.

This summarizes the quality assurance (QA) webinar conducted by the Quality Assurance Office (QAO) on Dec. 3, 2021. The webinar, with the theme “Forging UPLB’s Path to Quality Assurance”, sought to increase the constituents’ awareness of QA. It is part of QAO’s third year anniversary celebration.

Dr. Jean O. Loyola, vice chancellor for academic affairs, primed the participants by emphasizing that QA is an integral part of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr.’s vision to future-proof UPLB. His digital transformation team is working hard towards asserting UPLB’s position as part of the national university. On behalf of Vice Chancellor Loyola, her message was read by Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, QAO director.

In the message of Chancellor Jose Camacho, Jr., he reminded everyone to introspect how to further improve UPLB as institution despite carrying the “UPLB DNA”. Quality Assurance is, in many ways, at the core of future-proofing UPLB. And similar to the Johari Window, UPLB must eliminate its blind spots in order to ensure it realizes its vision.

Dr. Alyssa M. Peleo-Alampay, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Aura C. Matias, director of UP Diliman QAO, graced the celebration as they discussed the importance of QA and introduced the Philippine Quality Assurance Award (PQA), respectively.

Mr. Leslie G. Bolaños and Ms. Quintina D. Camunias presented their proposals during the APSIRE Training Program after the talks.

Dr. Cadiz closed the webinar by encouraging everyone to have a “quality mind-set”. This is apart from being “quality virus-infected” and to being infused by the “prairie fire of quality”.

The webinar was attended by more than 200 participants via Zoom and Facebook live, with Dr. Analyn L. Codilan, CFNR College QA Officer, successfully moderating it. (KAEBlanco)

AADU now QAO

On 29 September 2021, upon the recommendation of the President’s Advisory Committee (PAC) which is composed of CU Chancellors, President Danilo L. Concepcion approved the change in the name of UP’s quality assurance arm from “Academic Assessment and Development System (AADS)” to “Quality Assurance System (QAS)”. The term “QA” is a more reflective of the comprehensive scope of quality assurance.

Following this approval is the implementation of changes in nomenclature. The UP Diliman Academic Assessment and Development Office (UPD AADO) is now known as the UP Diliman Quality Assurance Office. The UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) is now UPLB Quality Assurance Office (QAO) with Director Nina M. Cadiz as the UPLB QA Officer. The college and unit QA coordinator or point person are now called the College Assurance Officer (CQAO) and Department/Institute QA Officer, respectively.

The Chief Quality Assurance Officer of the UP System remains to be the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (Quality Assurance) Dr. Alyssa Peleo-Alampay.

UPLB QAO is the University’s QA arm. Under the supervision of the Office of the Chancellor, it aims to institutionalize and strengthen the UPLB’s QA by performing the major functions of quality assurance; internal assessments; information process development; database management; and documentation of QA development and implementation. Upon its approval by the Board of Regents on its 1340th meeting on 03 December 2018, AADU has since conducted capability building, benchmarking with top Asian universities, and program and institutional assessments.

To date, UPLB QAO is staffed by Ms. Maria Kristelle R. Malveda, Administrative Officer I, and Ms. Emlyn A. Umali, Administrative Assistant II, who aid in the clerical and logistical needs of the operations and activities of the office. Two Project Development Associates (PDAs) also assist in the operation of AADU in terms of database management and promotion of QA and the office: Asst. Prof. Reginal Neil C. Recario and Asst. Prof. Katrina Anne E. Blanco.

Under the wing of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., UPLB QAO is playing its part in future proofing UPLB by ensuring quality in every program, operational systems, and services of the institution in terms of education, research, and public service. When it comes to quality, UPLB QAO (/ˈkaʊ/) does it!

UPLB QAO is located at 1/F, International House, Jose B. Juliano Ave., UPLB. It can be reached through (049) 572-0640 / (049) 561-4239. (KAE Blanco)

‘Be quality-virus infected’ as ASPIRE UPLB and UPV concludes

The Administrative Staff Program towards Institutional Resiliency and Excellence (ASPIRE) urged its participants and Aspirants to be infected and spread the “quality management virus” as it concludes on September 30 its almost two months of training.

ASPIRE is a series of online synchronous and asynchronous training workshops designed to equip the 50 participants from the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and UP Visayas (UPV) the 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) for the welcome remarks.

Dr. Ariel C. Blanco of the UP College of Engineering and Deputy Executive Director of the UP National Engineering Center (UP NEC) marked the day as “the beginning of new things”. Gaining confidence to be “prime movers and champions of quality”, he pursued the Aspirants to “build awareness and desire for quality and improvement” of their respective units.

Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, UPLB QA Officer and Director of the UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) and Dr. Philip Ian P. Padilla Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of UPV for their messages.

This was supported by Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, UPLB QA Officer and Director of the UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) in her message where she reminded the participants to execute what they learned and impart them with colleagues who are considered the backbone of the University. She also emphasized the value of quality, which has a price to attain high quality standard and high quality.

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 in the implementation. Quality assurance is a work in progress, a process, and a mindset, according to him, 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 III of UP NEC, 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 of UPLB won the Best in PQA Case Study Award, which is composed of Jocelyn G. Cordez, Maria Theresa B. Depoco, Airish N. Dimapilis, Caroline P. Khe, and Aprilyn R. Ramos.

The Most Promising Proposals Award was given to Group 4 of UPLB (“Readmission of Dismissed Students for First Time Dismissal” by Maria Kristina C. Biasong, Leslie G. Bolaños, Maria Luisa G. Mendoza, Dante P. Ocampo, and Rowena C. Perez) and Group 7 of UPV (“Procurement Process for Big and Small Ticket Items [Alternative Mode of Procurement of Goods] by Julie Ann H. Cala-or, Melany T. Calcaben, Rosemarie M. Canson, Ma. Juno Genesila, Sharon Rose G. Niog, and Ma. Nelce T. Taleon).

Group 3 of UPLB (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.

Mr. Leslie G. Bolaños, Student Records Evaluator II and Quality Manager of the UPLB Graduate School, and Ms. Roeyna May F. Tosino, University Extension Associate I of UPV’s Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, responded in behalf of the graduates. Through their narratives, they expressed their experience of the 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. This will lead to a resilient and excellent UP. Finally, she encouraged Aspirants to spread the “quality management virus”.

Ms. Maria Rea F. Bunuan, UP NEC’s University Extension Specialist IV, successfully moderated the ASPIRE UPLB & UPV Closing and Graduation Ceremonies.

Ms. Maria Rea F. Bunuan, UP NEC’s University Extension Specialist IV, successfully moderated 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 August 2, 4, 9, 16, 18, 20, 23, 31, September 13, and 20. (KAEBlanco)

ASPIRE UPLB & UPV kickoff via Zoom

The Administrative Staff Program towards Institutional Resiliency and Excellence (ASPIRE) Training Program for the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) and the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), or simply ASPIRE UPLB & UPV, has officially started with the virtual opening ceremony via Zoom on August 2, 2021.

The ASPIRE UPLB & UPV participants are expected to acquire necessary knowledge, mindset, and skills in developing and maintaining a Quality Management System (QMS).

Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, UPLB QA Officer and Director of the UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) attended the opening ceremony. AADU’s Ms. Kristelle R. Malveda and Ms. Emlyn A. Umali served as secretariat as part of training management and as participants.

Prof. Ferdinand G. Manegdeg, Dean of the UP College of Engineering and Executive Director of the UP National Engineering Center (NEC), welcomed the participants by highlighting the invaluable role of ASPIRE in building a culture of excellence in the university, specifying that the participants have critical contributions in the pursuit of such culture.

In his official message, UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. commended ASPIRE’s vision to help the university build a sustainable culture of QMS as the culture of quality assurance (QA) in the university has expanded beyond academic affairs. For him, the university’s daily operations is the lifeblood of its existence which deserve to be reviewed, assessed, and improved.

Chancellor Camacho acknowledged the role of the administration workforce as frontline employees of the university’s critical functions and operations that is significant in this quest for quality and excellence in order to future proof the university.

UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano pointed out that embedding QA, not only in the organizational structure, but also in the organizational culture can align deficiencies in competencies across an organization, which cause problems of inefficiency and poor-quality standards.

Chancellor Camposano affirmed ASPIRE’s role in building organizational culture as it will equip the participants proficiencies to develop and implement a QMS that is pivotal in delivering quality services amidst the challenges brought about by work from home arrangements and digital transformation in the workplace.

Both chancellors ended their messages encouraging the participants to take advantage and maximize the life-long learning opportunity that will contribute to their professional growth and to the institutional development of the university.

ASPIRE’s objectives, and training schedules and activities, as well as house rules and reminders were discussed to the participants. Introduction of the heads of the partner institutions, training managers, and co-secretariats were also presented.

Two lectures beefed up the session; a question-and-answer segment followed after each lecture. Dr. Aura C. Matias discussed the overview and objectives of the ASPIRE program, and introduced QMS, while Assoc. Prof. Adeline A. Pacia explained the process flow charts. Dr. Matias is ASPIRE’s Program Director and UP Diliman Academic Assessment and Development Office (AADO)’s Director, while Assoc. Prof. Pacia is UP Diliman’s Vice Chancellor for Administration. Both are faculty members of the College of Engineering.

Explanation of the first assignment, groupings, criteria for evaluation, and other announcements followed.

ASPIRE UPLB & UPV will be conducted on August 2, 4, 9, 16, 18, 20, 23, 31, September 13, 20, and 30 from 8 AM to 12 PM. It is a mix of 8 online synchronous sessions via Zoom, and 4 asynchronous schedules.

It is organized by UP Diliman AADO and UP NEC in partnership with UPLB and UPV. (KAE Blanco)

Prof. Ferdinand G. Manegdeg, Dean of the UP College of Engineering and Executive Director of the UP National Engineering Center (NEC), for the welcome remarks

UPLB Chancellor Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. and UPV Chancellor Dr. Clement C. Camposano for their official messages

Session’s lecturers Dr. Aura C. Matias and Assoc. Prof. Adeline A. Pacia

UPLB QA Officer and AADU Director Dr. Nina M. Cadiz

AADU’s Ms. Kristelle R. Malveda and Ms. Emlyn A. Umali as secretariats and as participants

Resource persons for the ASPIRE UPLB & UPV

Training partners for ASPIRE UPLB & UPV

UPLB is Now a Member of the AUN-EEC with Dr. Nina Cadiz as its Official Representative

Dr. Nina M. Cadiz, the Director of the Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU), was designated by Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. as UPLB’s official representative to ASEAN University Network- Ecological Education and Culture (AUN-EEC) on 21 April 2021.

Dr. Cadiz attended the first AUN-EEC General Assembly (GA) hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) last 12 May 2021 (via Zoom), as part of AUN-EEC’s planned activities this year. The GA aimed to kickoff this year’s goals to have interactions and future collaborations with member ASEAN universities. The keynote speech and plenary sharing were the highlights of the GA. The keynote message was delivered by Dr. Charlotte Kendra Gotangco, the Director of Ateneo Institute of Sustainability (AIS), explaining the disconnect in ecological education and culture (EEC). Meanwhile, the plenary sharing by the participants was an output of a small group activity which focused on the urgent issues related to EEC. Dr. Cadiz presented their group’s output and emphasized on the need for awareness, application and action, and implementation of policies related to EEC.

AUN-EEC is a thematic network that serves as a platform for cooperation among universities in the region to create and share knowledge and resources on educational practices that promote and cultivate a sustainable lifestyle and culture (“Ecological Education and Culture in ASEAN: An Overview,” n.d.). It was initiated by ADMU with Dr. Maria Asunta C. Cuyegekeng, also from ADMU, as its Director. Other planned activities of AUN-EEC this year are a conference on 04 August 2021 (online), webinar on habits for a sustainable lifestyle on 06 October 2021 (online), and webinar on best practices on ecological education on 01 December 2021 (online). (KAEBlanco)

Ecological Education and Culture in ASEAN: An Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://auneec.ateneo.edu.

AADU’s dedicated Administrative Assistant—Ms. Emlyn A. Umali

Emz is one of the pioneer staff members of AADU, who enjoys its peaceful work atmosphere. Being an administrative assistant enabled her to extend and explore her capabilities as well as empower her through her limitations. AADU has taught her to be output-oriented, proving her dedication to her duties and responsibilities. To cool down, she enjoys cooking, malling, and eating for and with her family.

Emz is a BS Agriculture graduate of UPLB. (KAEBlanco)

Ms. Maria Kristelle R. Malveda is AADU’s ever-reliable Administrative Officer

Kristelle finds happiness in giving and helping others. This is perhaps one of the reasons why she chose to be an administrative officer in AADU as she finds fulfillment in “helping the University elevate its position and gain its reputation among higher education institutions”. Thanks to her love for exercising, her happy pill, she is always ready to assist in AADU’s operations and activities.

Kristelle is a BS Nutrition graduate of UPLB and a Registered Nutritionist Dietitian. (KAEBlanco)

UPLB's QA office is AADU!

The UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Unit (AADU) is the University’s quality assurance (QA) arm. Under the supervision of the Office of the Chancellor, it aims to institutionalize and strengthen the UPLB’s QA by performing the major functions of quality assurance; internal assessments; information process development; database management; and documentation of QA development and implementation. Upon its approval by the Board of Regents on its 1340th meeting on 03 December 2018, AADU has since conducted capability building, and program assessments.

The office is housed at the International House Bldg., Jose B. Juliano Avenue, University of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna.

AADU is headed by Dr. Nina M. Cadiz as its Director, a professor of the Institute of Biological Sciences, who ensures the office is geared towards the fulfillment of its mandate. She oversees the implementation of QA measures as recommended by the Chancellor and the UPLB Academic Assessment and Development Advisory Committee (AADAC); leads in developing linkages with other QA organizations and networks; enforces strict compliance to university assessments and other QA programs; and leads QA Coordinators from different colleges/schools of UPLB. Dr. Cadiz is an ASEAN assessor herself.

To date, AADU is staffed by Ms. Maria R. Malveda, Administrative Officer I, and Ms. Emlyn A. Umali, Administrative Assistant II, who aid in the clerical and logistical needs of the operations and activities of the office. Two Project Development Associates (PDAs) also assist in the operation of AADU in terms of database management and promotion of QA and the office: Asst. Prof. Reginal Neil C. Recario of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) and Asst. Prof. Katrina Anne E. Blanco of the Department of Humanities, both under the College of Arts and Science (CAS).

Under the wing of Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr., AADU is playing its part in future-proofing UPLB by ensuring quality in every program, operational systems, and services of the institution in terms of education, research, and public service. When it comes to quality, AADU-it! (KAE Blanco)

Who's New at AADU

aProf. Katrina Anne E. Blanco joins AADU as new PDA!

Asst. Prof. Katrina Anne E. Blanco of the Department of Humanities-CAS, is the new addition in at AADU. She started her journey with us on January 2021 and will be at AADU until December 2021.

As AADU’s newest project development associate (PDA), Kat will channel her passion for language and communication to write articles for AADU’s website, prepare various communications and reports, and create promotional materials. Given her training experience in the corporate world, she will also assist in the planning and conduct of workshops, training, and benchmarking related to QA.

Kat believes that there is opportunity in everything—to learn, share, and touch people’s lives—and she always try to find a silver lining in whatever situation she is in, traits that make her persistent and diligent in things she does. Being part of the AADU family is a perfect breather for her to experience something new beyond teaching.

She is a full-fledged UPLB alumna, having finished BA Communication Arts (major in Speech Communication) and MA Communication Arts (major in Writing, cognate in Education Management). As a faculty member of the Department of Humanities, her research works focuses on human communication and classroom instruction, and has been tutoring international students under the Language Instruction Towards Excellence Program (LITE).

Kat, ironically, is more of a dog person than a cat person, although she finds herself mesmerized by cats. She has a pack of seven dogs. (KAE Blanco)

Who's New at AADU

aProf. Reginald Neil Recario is renewed as PDA of AADU!

Asst. Prof. Reginald Neil Recario of the Institute of Computer Science-CAS, has been renewed as PDA at AADU from January to December 2021.

For someone who is into computer and IT, it is not surprising that Reg is renewed as PDA at AADU. He is our go-to person when it comes to anything about and related to computers, from the preferred specs for a desktop to the best brand for a Wi-Fi router. But, Reg’s task in AADU goes beyond these minute missions. As PDA, he is primarily responsible in maintaining the office’s webpage and is currently working on the database of AADU.

He lives by the phrase “Never stop learning,” thus the PDA stint is a welcomed surprise as he believes that there is always “something new to learn outside of my field and of the university in general”. He knows how to balance work and personal life as he works with grace under pressure, squeezing in watching Netflix series and YouTube videos during his leisure time.

Reg is a bonafide UPLB alumnus, having finished BS Computer Science and Master of Information Technology. He is a faculty member of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) who ensures fun, relatable, and socially relevant learning. His research work focuses on databases, artificial intelligence, software engineering, computer vision, natural language processing, and data science. (KAE Blanco)