The year 2022 proves to sustain UP’s mandate and thrust to guarantee top-level quality in education, research, and public service in all its constituent units.

UPLB Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. reappoints nine out of 11 College/School Quality Officers (CQAOs) as representatives in the UPLB Quality Assurance Office (UPLB QAO).

They are: Dr. Adeliza A. Dorado of College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS), Prof. Rosemarie D. Eusebio of College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Dr. Edmund G. Centeno of College of Development Communication (CDC), Prof. Arlene C. Gutierrez of College of Economics and Management (CEM), Dr. Analyn L. Codilan of College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR), Prof. Leila S. Africa of College of Human Ecology (CHE), Dr. Rhea L. Gumasing of College of Public Affairs and Development (CPAf), Dr. Jovencio Hubert A. Abalos of College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and Dr. Janice S. Garcia of School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM).

The UPLB Graduate School (GS) and the College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology (CEAT) have new CQAOs: Dr. Ariel L. Babierra of the Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Physics (IMSP) and Dr. Marion Lux Y. Castro of the Institute of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (IABE).

All except Dr. Abalos have been appointed CQAO from April 1, 2022 to March 21, 2025. Dr. Abalos’ appointment is from April 1 to November 30, 2022 only.

As CQAOs, they are primarily designated to carry out self-assessment reviews and to assist and guide their respective units in writing the self-assessment report (SAR) of their assigned degree program. They are also expected to implement the policies and mandates of the UPLB QAO and to conduct echo seminars/workshops on QA. Their other tasks include attending training on QA and assisting UPLB QAO in drafting a manual of operations for program assessment.

In 2021, the CQAOs conducted the “Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Writing Training Seminar” on Oct. 28-29 and Nov. 3-4 via virtual conferencing.

The training seminar launched training modules devised by the CQACs that aim to equip SAR writers of the different units with skills and knowledge in crafting a sound SAR, which is a requirement for external quality assessment such as the Asian University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA).

This year, the CQAOs are busy conducting SAR reviews of UPLB degree programs and are eyeing benchmarking planning and activities. In particular, CAFS and CEM CQAOs aid in leading their colleges with the 2022 AUN-QA External Assessment. (Katrina Anne E. Blanco)