Dr. Theresita Atienza: “HEIs that prioritize quality and integrate it into their culture will thrive in the long run”
Dr. Theresita V. Atienza, QCU President, served as one of the plenary speakers during the 2023 Quality Assurance Testimonial held on the second day of the 16th National Conference of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities – Commission on Accreditation at the Manila Hotel, Roxas Boulevard, Manila.
Joining Dr. Atienza during the plenary talk were Dr. Danilo Solayao and Dr. Mariters Tagulao of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa, and Dr. Larnie Sam A. Tabuena, President of the La Carlota City College, Negros Occidental. Atty. Gloria Banas, President of the City College of San Fernando, served as the moderator of the discussion.
Dr. Atienza gave a talk on QCU’s experience in achieving a sustainable university education. She started by detailing QCU’s QA journey from applying for institutional recognition from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) up to its Level II Accreditation visit from the ALCUCOA, which the University accomplished within the last three years.
“When we achieved the Candidate Status from ALCUCOA, we realized that joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest. That magic moment helped us change and sent us off in search of our dreams that is why we immediately applied for Level 1 accreditation,” Dr. Atienza said.
She also highlighted that the support of the Quezon City government has been an important backbone in quality assurance that has resulted in the realization of excellence in key areas such as faculty, student, research, curriculum and instruction, and community engagement.
“It was really the support of the City Mayor… It was through this support that we realized our achievements in various areas as an institution of higher learning,” she emphasized.
The President also mentioned that there is in order for an institution to thrive, it should undergo accreditation and commit to continuous improvement, focus on stakeholders’ needs and expectations, and be willing to invest in the needed resources and infrastructure.
“To achieve sustainable accreditation, our LCUs need a comprehensive data management system, a sustainable quality management system, and high-quality education that equip students with the essential professional skills that enable economic development,” Dr. Atienza added.
The 16th ALCUCOA National Conference was a two-day event held from October 2 to 3, 2023 with the theme “The Future of Quality Assurance in Philippine Higher Education.” More than 48 local colleges and universities in the country attended the event to discuss the critical role of quality assurance in ensuring that higher education institutions (HEIs) provide students with high-quality education that meets the needs of the industry and of society.
