CSU QA commitment, alignment to Global Academic Excellence cascaded in reinforcement workshop

Caraga State University continues to elevate its commitment to global academic excellence and strategic alignment with international standards through the conduct of a Re-Echo Seminar on the ASEAN University Network – Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Program Assessment 4.0 and Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Writeshop on July 29–30, 2025.

The seminar served as a platform to share valuable learnings and practical insights from international and regional trainings attended by select CSU personnel, particularly the AUN-QA Tier 1 Training Course in Bangkok, Thailand, and a SAR Writing Workshop in Davao City. The experiences helped equip CSU with the tools and knowledge needed as it gears up for AUN-QA Program Assessment by 2026.

In his opening message, University President Dr. Rolyn C. Daguil highlighted the importance of teamwork and commitment in CSU’s journey toward excellence, saying. It “is more than just a training. It is a collective move to uplift our academic standards and prepare our programs to meet international expectations.”

The highlights of the lecture were the AUN-QA framework centered on eight (8) core criteria. Engr. Stephanie Mae B. Salcedo-Albores, Division Chief for Strategic Foresight and Management, opened the sessions with an overview of the AUN-QA system and facilitated a discussion on teaching and learning approaches, emphasizing the alignment of the program and service delivery with the University’s VMGO.

Dr. Abigael L. Balbin, Director of the Office of Curriculum and Instruction Development (OCID), spoke on strict integration of the Outcomes-Based Education (OBE) approach within the AUN-QA framework, covering the first two criteria: Expected Learning Outcomes and Program Structure and Content.

Day two featured CSU’s academic and quality assurance leaders as speakers, each tackling the remaining AUN-QA criteria. Mr. Roland Abao of the BSIT program discussed student assessment; Ms. Joy Mariz D. Otero, head of the Quality Management Unit, focused on academic staff quality; Engr. Cindy May C. Belivestre spoke on student support services; and Mr. Azriel Barrientos tackled facilities and infrastructure. The seminar wrapped up with Dr. Michelle V. Japitana, Vice President for Executive Operations, who presented on program outputs and outcomes.

Each speaker shared a foundation, institutional strategies, key practices, and initiatives that would guide program chairpersons, quality assurance officers, and technical working groups in developing evidence-based, quality-aligned self-assessment reports set on the second part of the activity on August 7, 2025.

This initiative reflects CSU’s firm commitment to continuous improvement and its vision of becoming a globally recognized institution. More than just a requirement, the AUN-QA framework has served as a reflective tool for the university to critically evaluate and continuously enhance its academic practices.

Through this collective effort, CSU is not just preparing for a regional assessment. It is nurturing a culture of quality, strengthening its internal systems, and reaffirming its dedication to aligning academic programs with Sustainable Development Goal No. 4: Quality Education.