DLA for PAASCU Accreditation

by Royce Posadas

PAASCU stands for Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Collages, and University. They are an organization that has the following objectives:

• To encourage and assist member institutions to continually improve themselves through a culture of on-going and cyclical evaluation, self-assessment and peer review for quality improvement .

• To assure local and international stakeholders of the quality of education in accredited programs and institutions.

• To strengthen the capabilities of educational institutions for service to the nation, ASEAN and beyond.

• To promote and integrate the efforts of member institutions to elevate the standard of education in the Philippines.

• To assist member institutions and their graduates, in their quest for national, regional and international recognition of their academic programs.

• To collaborate with national and international agencies and organizations involved in quality assurance.

• To provide training, research, consultancy and quality assurance services to educational institutions and other agencies/organizations inside and outside the country.

• To ensure the growth and sustainability of the association through research and the periodic updating of accreditation processes.

• To provide regular capability building of staff and accreditors.

• To utilize appropriate and updated technology in the operation of PAASCU.

There are days that students observe a shortened period and get to go home early in order to give way for the meeting of the faculty to prepare for the PAASCU. It is said that accreditors can visit the campus anytime soon. Students have to prepare as well since the accreditors can interview anyone about the mission, vision, core values of the school, as well as updates on its activities and events.

If the school gets accredited by the PAASCU, they can get access to the following, including, but not limited to financial deregulation, priority in the awards of grants/subsidies or funding assistance from CHEDHigherEducation Development Fund (HEDF) for scholarships and faculty development, facilities improvement and other development programs. PAASCU also gives the school and the faculty a sense of direction, facilitate the transfer of students, and provide guidance for parents and students in the choice of worthy schools.

PAASCU will not just be a benefit for the school but also for the students. Passing their accreditation will help the students achieve a better future. You can learn more about PAASCU by visiting their website at paascu.org.ph.