The University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) has completed a three-day assessment by the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) of four of its degree programs. 

The AUN-QA assessment team visited UPD from November 27 to 29, 2023, to evaluate the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institution Management, Master of Science in Food Science, and Bachelor of Science in Tourism. The team conducted interviews with faculty members, students, and alumni, and also reviewed the programs' curriculum, facilities, and resources. 

The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) recently held the External Quality Assessment (EQA) of three degree programs: Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business Management and Entrepreneurship (BS ABME), Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Applied Economics (BS AAE), and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BS CS). The EQA was conducted from November 15-17, 2023, and involved a panel of experts from different institutions who assessed the programs' strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).

The EQA panel commended the three programs for their strong faculty, well-equipped facilities, and relevant curriculum. They also noted the programs' commitment to research and extension, as well as their strong alumni network.

In partnership with the Philippine Accrediting Association for Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), the UP System QA held a free webinar for the UP QA community on November 7, 2023. The webinar titled "Navigating PAASCU Accreditation Standards, Procedures, and Best Practices" featured Mr. Ricardo Palo, PAASCU Executive Director, and Dr. Cecile Gutierez, PAASCU Graduate Education Commission Chair. 

The UP System Quality Assurance Office (UP System QA) organized the UP External Reviewers Training from November 13 to 17, 2023, at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). This training aimed to equip Quality Officers and faculty members from various UP Constituent Universities (CUs) with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively conduct external quality assurance (EQA) reviews.

In their policy note titled "The Learning Crisis in Philippine Education: An Overview," Maria Cynthia Rose Bautista and Mark Vincent Aranas emphasize the crucial need for Filipino learners to acquire 21st-century skills in order to navigate today's challenges successfully. They argue that the Philippine education system must shift its focus towards lifelong learning to achieve high-quality education outcomes and address the country's ongoing learning crisis. This policy note, published by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) and presented to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), highlights the urgent need for educational reform in the Philippines. The full article can be found in the July - September issue of the PIDS newsletter which may be downloaded here. October 2023.

Despite some achievements in the Philippines' higher education sector, significant challenges persist, including issues related to low and inconsistent quality, underdeveloped research and innovation systems, access disparities, financial sustainability concerns, and inadequate employment outcomes. A policy note prepared for the Second Congressional Commission on Education by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) titled "The quest for quality and equity in the Philippine higher education: Where to from here?" highlights the sector's ongoing struggles in upholding quality standards and providing equitable access, even after implementing financial reforms, as indicated by both input and output indicators. The full article can be found in the July - September issue of the PIDS newsletter which may be downloaded here. October 2023.