The assessors, participants and organizers of the joint EQA Assessment of DCS and MIS programs during the Opening Session.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) recently concluded a rigorous joint External Quality Assurance (EQA) Assessment for its Diploma in Computer Science (DCS) and Master of Information Systems (MIS) programs. Organized by the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) and coordinated by the Quality Assurance Office (QAO), the assessment took place from 12 to 14 March 2024, at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, and via Zoom. This undertaking marked another significant step towards ensuring and enhancing the quality of academic offerings by the institution.
Led by a team of esteemed assessors from the University of the Philippines System, the assessments of the programs aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of the DCS and MIS programs in meeting the evolving demands of open and distance education through the quality assessment criteria set by the AUN-QA Programme-level Assessment.
The assessors for the DCS program were Assistant Prof. Arlene C. Gutierrez as the Lead Assessor and Assoc. Prof. Tonette P. Laude as the Assistant Assessor, both from UP Los Baños. For the MIS program, the assessment team was led by Assoc. Prof. Rhea L. Gumasing, from UP Los Baños with Prof. Consuelo Dl. Habito from UPOU serving as the Assistant Assessor. Following the UP EQA Types the DCS program was assessed through the Type B assessment which brings in external reviewers from a different constituent university while the MIS program underwent Type C assessment which combines both internal and external reviewers.
The three-day assessment consisted of a series of activities including interviews with the SAR writers, academic staff, support staff, students, alumni, and employers associated with the DCS and MIS programs. Additionally, the assessors also dedicated time to evaluate the facilities and infrastructure through online and onsite visits.
Assessors conducting an onsite visit to evaluate the campus facilities and infrastructure for the DCS and MIS programs.
The preliminary results of the EQA assessment of both programs were presented on the final day, followed by a closing session that marked the successful conclusion of the assessment process. The session served as a catalyst to usher in further enhancement of the DCS and MIS programs using insights and feedback gathered from the assessment.
Dr. Primo G. Garcia, the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of UPOU, expressed his appreciation for the commitment of the program and the stakeholders involved in the laborious assessment process and encouraged them to continue reflecting on its importance. He acknowledged that the thorough and constructive feedback of the assessors will lead to the continuous improvement of the program and the quality of the graduates it will produce in the evolving digital landscape.
By conducting programme-level assessments, UPOU aims to ensure institutional quality, inclusivity, agility, accountability, and confidence in its academic programs. This shows the dedication of UPOU in fulfilling its mission of providing accessible and quality education for all in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Written by Ammanessi Joy Lapitan ♦ Edited by Mari Anjeli L. Crisanto ♦ Contributed by UPOU QAO
#UPOpenUniversity
