Central Philippine University (CPU) recently conducted a vital workshop on “Setting the Mechanisms for Internal Quality Assurance in Higher Education: From Planning to Implementation,” to Filamer Christian University, Inc. (FCU) held on July 25, 2025, at the Nursing Conference Room, FCU.

The event was organized by the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Center (QAAC) and brought together university leaders, faculty, and staff in a collaborative effort to enhance quality assurance (QA) practices within the academic community.

University president Dr. George O. Cortel, delivered the welcome remarks, emphasizing the importance of continuous quality improvement to uphold the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and global competitiveness.

“It is the perfect time to have this training as it is necessary for us to further develop our own internal operational frameworks for our goals in attaining international certifications,” Dr. Cortel said.

Quality Assurance Essentials

The workshop featured multiple sessions designed to provide FCU’s academic and unit heads with essential tools for improving QA practices within their own institutions.

Dr. Anna May Y. Zerrudo, Director of CPU’s QAAC, provided the rationale for the event, explaining that a robust internal QA mechanism is essential for HEIs to assess their ability to foster academic excellence. It helps in evaluating how well they meet global standards, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to compete on the international stage.

She kicked off the first session, focusing on the importance of mission-driven goals in the organizational implementation of QA. The session also highlighted the role of basic needs such as mission/vision, strategic plans, policies, and functional objectives in shaping QA strategies. Participants were introduced to the CPU QA Framework, which serves as a guide for institutions in setting and maintaining quality standards.

 “If you [the university] have quality, you’re able to achieve something,” Dr. Zerrudo emphasized empowering FCU to build its reputation first. “You start with the Internal Quality Audit (IQA),” highlighting the importance of self-evaluation and auditing of the university operations before it proceeds with external operational accreditations.

Her session covered the foundational concepts and key elements of quality assurance in higher education – including the transformation of institutional mission and vision into measurable quality objectives, policies, and processes.

Identifying the Key Implementers

The second session delved into the planning and capacity-building required for the effective implementation of QA mechanisms. Prof. Sharlene G. Gotico, Associate Director of QAAC, led the discussion on identifying key stakeholders, contextualizing their roles, and engaging them meaningfully in the QA process.

This session emphasized that quality assurance is not just a top-down process but requires buy-in from all levels of the institution, ensuring that every stakeholder is involved in sustaining quality.

Setting Internal QA Mechanisms

The final session covered the nuts and bolts of setting up internal QA mechanisms, including the significance of internal quality audits and document control processes. Ms. Novi B. Pascua, Internal Lead Quality Auditor, along with Ms. Rhoda L. Angelo, University Document Controller, provided in-depth insights into how universities can streamline their internal processes to achieve more effective QA results.

“We need to be strict with our operations, polocies, and guidelines so that we will attain our goals as an institution,” Ms. Pascua shared.

She provided meaningful experiences being an auditor in their university where faced different reactions and response from the different offices in their university.

After the session, an open forum provided an opportunity for participants to ask questions and discuss the challenges they face in their own institutions.

Looking Ahead

This workshop marked an important step forward in CPU’s ongoing efforts to improve its internal quality assurance systems. By collaborating with FCU and other institutions, CPU aims to build a robust network of higher education institutions committed to continuous improvement and quality education.

“Quality control is a devolved responsibility,” Dr. Zerrudo said in her closing statement. “Quality control is for the university,” she added.

Meanwhile, Vice President for Academic Affairs of FCU encouraged the acadmic and unit heads to streamline their operations for better service output. “Awareness [of this] is important, so we need to be informed—ano guid bala ang role natun as heads or secretaries of our offices,” she said.

On the other hand, Dr. Erlyn Beup, the Vice President of REQA, expressed her gratitude to CPU-QAAC team, “Your willingness to impart knowledge and insights is deeply appreciated, and we are confident that sharing of best practices will provide invaluable perspectives and contribute significantly to our efforts of enhancing the quality of our academic programs and service. This gathering, therefore, holds even greater importance as we strengthen our foundations for achieving ISO certification and upholding highest standards of quality,” she said.

The program was designed as part of the QA Mentoring Program, a knowledge-sharing initiative aimed at strengthening internal quality mechanisms in higher education institutions (HEIs). The program stems from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between “sister schools” CPU and FCU for the academic years 2024-2029. CPU’s QAAC proposed this mentorship activity to assist FCU in refining its own internal QA practices, ensuring that both institutions remain aligned with global academic standards.