AMSC Delegates attend 3rd Regional IQA Implementation Workshop Hosted by WMSU

Zamboanga City, Philippines — Western Mindanao State University officially launched the 3rd Workshop on University’s Internal Quality Assurance Implementation in the Philippines on September 15 at the Dr. Juanito Bruno Gymnasium in Zamboanga City. Running through September 17, 2026, the three-day capacity-building initiative convened higher education leaders and quality assurance practitioners from state universities and colleges across Mindanao to strengthen institutional quality assurance systems.

The collaborative event was jointly organized by the ASEAN Quality Assurance Network, IQAdvance, the ASEAN University Network Secretariat, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development, and the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines.

Representing Adiong Memorial State College at this landmark gathering were Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Rashida A. Abedin, Dean Sittienor C. Abubakar, Dean Bedaria I. Amerol, Information Technology Officer I Sir Junaid B. Ahmad, Supervising Administrative Officer Salma Pandapatan, Quality Assurance Officers Sir Abuat Macarampat, and Ma'am Razimah A. Abedin. Joining other academic leaders from Mindanao, the delegation actively participated in workshops designed to operationalize internal quality management mechanisms aligned with regional standards.

The program focused on utilizing the AUN-QA Internal Quality Assurance Management Toolkit Version 1.3, which is structured around the Eight Building Blocks of University Quality Management. In her welcome address, WMSU President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena emphasized that quality assurance must transcend mere compliance and accreditation by cultivating an enduring culture of continuous improvement across higher education institutions. She highlighted that while universities operate under diverse contexts and challenges, they share the unified responsibility of delivering quality education, services, and outcomes for students and communities. Supporting this perspective, AACCUP Chair and President Dr. Anthony M. Penaso characterized quality assurance as a symbol of trust between universities, students, industries, and society, encouraging delegates to build internal quality systems tailored to their distinct institutional environments.

Delivering the keynote address, Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis urged state universities and colleges to frame their ongoing development around three guiding principles: Sustain, Strengthen, and Synergize. Dr. Agrupis underscored the necessity of preserving quality gains, fortifying internal quality assurance structures, and building collective partnerships throughout the sector. AQAN President Dr. Milabel E. Ho noted that this workshop signifies the final phase of the toolkit’s Version 1.3 implementation in the Philippines, laying the groundwork for a future Version 2 aimed at being even more transformative and responsive to local academic ecosystems.

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