APQN Members
Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU)
Membership Type: Full
Email: info@paascu.org.ph
Year in which Organisation/Agency commenced operations: 1957
Countries/regions/states of operation: Philippines
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Title: Fr.
First Name: Joel
Surname: Tabora, SJ
Job Title: President
Phone: +63-29112845, +63-2 9131998
Fax: +63-2 9110807
Email Id: jetaborasj@gmail.com
Nominated Contact Person (if different from CEO)
First Name: Ricardo
Surname: Palo
Job Title: Executive Director
Email Id: info@paascu.org.ph
Organisation Details
Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU)
Address: Unit 107 The Tower at Emerald Square, JP Rizal corner P. Tuazon Streets, Project 4, 1109 Quezon City
Philippines
Website: www.paascu.org.ph
Additional Contacts
Criteria Requirements for Full Member
1 Criterion: Nature of the operations of the agency:
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary
education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary
education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Description: PAASCU, a private, voluntary, non-profit and non-stock corporation, was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 1957. PAASCU is a service organization that accredits academic programs which meet standards of quality education. The Philippine government recognizes the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and endorses its work as an accrediting agency.
On February 15, 2005, the Commission on Higher Education released a new memorandum order entitled Revised Policies and Guidelines on Voluntary Accreditation in Aid of Quality and Excellence in Higher Education.
PAASCU started with program accreditation and in the late nineties ventured into multiple program surveys. This will now serve as the basis for institutional accreditation.
On February 15, 2005, the Commission on Higher Education released a new memorandum order entitled Revised Policies and Guidelines on Voluntary Accreditation in Aid of Quality and Excellence in Higher Education.
PAASCU started with program accreditation and in the late nineties ventured into multiple program surveys. This will now serve as the basis for institutional accreditation.
Documents Upload: Download 'CMO_No._1_s._2005.doc'
2 Criterion: Mission statement and objectives:
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Description: Throughout its history, PAASCU has been committed ti the improvement of education at all levels through evaluation and accreditation.
PAASCUâ??s Objectives are as follows:
1. to stimulate and integrate the efforts of institutions to elevate the standards of education in the Philippines in both rural and urban areas.
2. to strengthen the capabilities of the educational institutions for service of the nation.
3. to identify educational institutions which meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality.
4. to encourage and assist institutions which have the potential and interest to improve themselves through continuing evaluation and self-surveys.
5. to provide counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions and programs.
6. to provide a basis for institutional relationships, particularly in the transfer of students.
7. to provide guidance to the students and parents in the choice of institutions and programs.
8. to attract financial aid from government and other sources for accredited programs and schools applying for accreditation.
PAASCUâ??s Objectives are as follows:
1. to stimulate and integrate the efforts of institutions to elevate the standards of education in the Philippines in both rural and urban areas.
2. to strengthen the capabilities of the educational institutions for service of the nation.
3. to identify educational institutions which meet or exceed stated criteria of educational quality.
4. to encourage and assist institutions which have the potential and interest to improve themselves through continuing evaluation and self-surveys.
5. to provide counsel and assistance to established and developing institutions and programs.
6. to provide a basis for institutional relationships, particularly in the transfer of students.
7. to provide guidance to the students and parents in the choice of institutions and programs.
8. to attract financial aid from government and other sources for accredited programs and schools applying for accreditation.
Documents Upload: Download 'PAASCU_Primer.doc'
3 Criterion: Agency staff, Numbers, Profile, Roles:
Measure: The profile of the staff is consistent with the Mission Statement
Measure: The profile of the staff is consistent with the Mission Statement
Description: PAASCU is governed by a 15-person Board of Directors elected at large by members during the annual general assembly. It has five Commissions with seven members each to perform its mandate. These are the Commissions on Graduate Education, Tertiary Education, Medical Education. Secondary Education and Elementary Education. The Commissions plan and initiate projects for each of the levels, revise evaluation instruments, train accreditors and team chairs. They also review the reports of the visits before these are submitted to the Board.
The day to day operations are handled by a Secretriat which is headed by an executive director. There are 15 members of the staff. The Secretariat takes care of the logistics of the visits, invites accreditors, prepares reports and instruments and implements the projects of the commissions.
The day to day operations are handled by a Secretriat which is headed by an executive director. There are 15 members of the staff. The Secretariat takes care of the logistics of the visits, invites accreditors, prepares reports and instruments and implements the projects of the commissions.
4 Criterion: Profile of reviewers:
Measure: The profile of the reviewers is consistent with the Mission Statement
Measure: The profile of the reviewers is consistent with the Mission Statement
Description: PAASCU takes pride in having a core of volunteers, over 800 accreditors from all over the country who visit schools in teams of six or seven members to perform over a hundred fifty surveys per year.
PAASCU conducts training workshops for accreditors which last for two days. A simulation exercise is done Not everyone who joins the workshop gets to be an accreditor. The Trainors evaluate the participants and based on certain crietria decide who will make good and competent accreditors.
PAASCU conducts training workshops for accreditors which last for two days. A simulation exercise is done Not everyone who joins the workshop gets to be an accreditor. The Trainors evaluate the participants and based on certain crietria decide who will make good and competent accreditors.
5 Criterion: Independence:
Measure: The judgements and recommendations of the agency’s reports cannot be changed by third parties
Measure: The judgements and recommendations of the agency’s reports cannot be changed by third parties
Description: The visiting team prepares a report which is submitted to the respective commissions. The Commissions review the reports and transmit it to the Board of Directors. The final recommendation comes from the Board of Directors. This process ensures the integrity of the accrediting agency. A third party cannot come in to change the report.
6 Criterion: Resources:
Measure: The agency has sufficient resources to run its operations in accordance with its mission statement and objectives
Measure: The agency has sufficient resources to run its operations in accordance with its mission statement and objectives
Description: PAASCU has existed since 1957 and it can look back with pride at 48 years of dedicated service to Philippine education. The spirit of volunteerism is high and it has enough human, material and financial resources to run its operations efficiently and effectively.
On the average, it visits about 150 institutions all over the country in one year.
On the average, it visits about 150 institutions all over the country in one year.
7 Criterion: External quality assurance criteria and processes:
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Description: The steps in the self-survey process are outlined in the Manual of Accreditation for Higher Education Institutions. The Survey Instruments for the different programs contain the standards and criteria which the institution uses for its self-study. An institutional self-study usually takes about a year to complete. Upon submission of the self-study report to the Secretariat, a site visit is conducted. A PAASCU team consisting of seven to eight accreditors visit the institution, observes classes, interviews administrators, faculty, staff and students to vaidate the self-study done by the institution.
The team submits its report to the Secretariat and it is passed on the various Commissions to be reviewed, after which it goes to the PAASCU Board of Directors for the final recommendation. A formal report is given to the insitution which contains the best features and recommendations. The institution is expected to work on the recommendations of the team. Initial accreditation is given for a period of three years, followed by five year cycles.
The team submits its report to the Secretariat and it is passed on the various Commissions to be reviewed, after which it goes to the PAASCU Board of Directors for the final recommendation. A formal report is given to the insitution which contains the best features and recommendations. The institution is expected to work on the recommendations of the team. Initial accreditation is given for a period of three years, followed by five year cycles.
8 Criterion: Quality assurance:
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Measure: The description of the processes and criteria applied should be transparent and publicly available and normally include:
self evaluation, site visit, public report and follow-up measure
Description: There is a Federation of Accrediting Agency of the Philippines(FAAP) which coordinates the accreditation work done by the agencies. The FAAP engages the Commission on Higher Education in a continuing dialogue.
The latest CHED Memorandum Order No. 1. s. 2005 on the "Revised Policies and Guidelines on Voluntary Education.." outlines the quality assurance measures taken by the government to ensure that accrediting agencies perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
In the accreditation of medical schools, PAASCU is also recognized by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education Accreditation (NCFMEA) under the U.S. Department of Education based in Washington, D.C. and undergoes occasional review.
On May 14, 2004, the NCFMEA determined that the standards and processes used by PAASCU to accredit medical schools in the Philippines are comparable to those used to accredit medical schools in the U.S. The determination of comparability has a maximum duration of six years.
On August 4-5, 2005, two representatives from the US Department of Education came to the Philippines to observe an accreditation review of a Philippine medical school and evaluate PAASCU's processes and procedures.
The latest CHED Memorandum Order No. 1. s. 2005 on the "Revised Policies and Guidelines on Voluntary Education.." outlines the quality assurance measures taken by the government to ensure that accrediting agencies perform their roles and responsibilities efficiently and effectively.
In the accreditation of medical schools, PAASCU is also recognized by the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education Accreditation (NCFMEA) under the U.S. Department of Education based in Washington, D.C. and undergoes occasional review.
On May 14, 2004, the NCFMEA determined that the standards and processes used by PAASCU to accredit medical schools in the Philippines are comparable to those used to accredit medical schools in the U.S. The determination of comparability has a maximum duration of six years.
On August 4-5, 2005, two representatives from the US Department of Education came to the Philippines to observe an accreditation review of a Philippine medical school and evaluate PAASCU's processes and procedures.
Criteria Requirements for Institutional Member
Institutional Member Criteria:
Measure: Institutional Members are institutions of higher education in the region that are in good standing with the relevant quality assurance agency if one exists.
Measure: Institutional Members are institutions of higher education in the region that are in good standing with the relevant quality assurance agency if one exists.
Proof of recognition as a Higher Education Institution: Applicable Only For Institutional Members
Proof of the organisation’s good standing with the local QA agency: Applicable Only For Institutional Members
Criteria Requirements for Associate Member
Associate Member Criteria:
Measure:Associate Members are organisations with a major interest and active involvement in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, but without the responsibility for assuring the quality of institutions, education programs, or external quality assurance agencies
Measure:Associate Members are organisations with a major interest and active involvement in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education, but without the responsibility for assuring the quality of institutions, education programs, or external quality assurance agencies
Applicable Only For Associate Members
Criteria Requirements for Intermediate Member
1 Criterion: Nature of the operations of the agency:
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Measure: The agency is responsible for reviews at institutional or programme level of post-secondary education institutions or post-secondary quality assurance agencies
Description: Applicable Only For Intermediate Members
2 Criterion: Mission statement and objectives:
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Measure: The agency has formulated a mission statement and objectives which are consistent with the nature of the agency
Applicable Only For Intermediate Members
3 Criterion: :
Proof of the organisation’s good standing with the local QA agency
Proof of the organisation’s good standing with the local QA agency
Applicable Only For Intermediate Members
Criteria Requirements for Observer
Criterion For Observers:
Measure: APQN accepts as Observers organisations outside the Asia-Pacific region, including: external quality assurance agencies; institutions with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education; other regional networks that have major interests in and strong links with the region
Measure: APQN accepts as Observers organisations outside the Asia-Pacific region, including: external quality assurance agencies; institutions with a major interest in evaluation, accreditation and quality assurance in higher education; other regional networks that have major interests in and strong links with the region
Criteria Requirements for Observer: Applicable Only For Observers
Documentation and Fees
Additional Information: No additional information is required for my application
Upon approval of my application I agree to pay:
- $500 (Initial Joining Fee: Full Member, Intermediate Member, Associate Member)
- $300 Member Fee: Full Member, Intermediate Member (if not INQAAHE Member)
I will be applying for support for: Both Initial Joining Fee and Membership Fee
Documents Submitted
CMO_No._1_s._2005.docPAASCU_Primer.doc
Manual_of_Accreditation.doc
NCFMEA.doc
Located in: APQN Members
