- Written by Engr. Joshua Gibson Fuentes
- Read Time: 1 min
The Bachelor of Technology and Livelihood Education (BTLEd) major in Home Economics program made another step towards elevating its AACCUP Level status after undergoing an online accreditation survey visit by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) from February 17 to 21.
Currently holding a Level I accreditation, the BTLEd program aims to achieve Level II reaccredited status, which will enhance its educational quality and pave the way for higher accreditation levels.
AACCUP is a national accreditation body that evaluates the quality of academic programs offered by State Universities and Colleges (SUCs). Its accreditation process ensures that higher education institutions meet established standards in curriculum, faculty qualifications, research, facilities, and student services.
The AACCUP accreditation team for the BTLEd program was led by Dr. Nel Bryan C. Tugelida from Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, with Dr. Rizza S. Gumbao from Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Prof. Roberto Rodel R. Gonzalez from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology serving as team members.
During the exit conference held on February 21 via Zoom, Quality Assurance and Accreditation (QAA) Director Dr. Carlito Cabas, Jr. highlighted that the accreditation process not only aims to enhance the BTLEd program but also contributes to the overall improvement of the university’s systems and educational standards.
He explained that the BTLEd program’s accreditation is crucial in ensuring that the Master of Education (MAEd) major in TLE remains compliant with the Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) requirements set by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Without achieving the required accreditation level, the MAEd-TLE program may face temporary shelving, putting its implementation on hold.
“The accreditation results of the BTLEd program will greatly impact the eligibility requirements for our MAEd-TLE COPC,” Dr. Cabas said. “We aim to achieve Level II reaccredited status, enabling us to promptly submit the program for Level III accreditation within the 3rd or 4th quarter of this year to meet CHED's reglementary period for the MAEd-TLE.”
Meanwhile, Team Leader Dr. Tugelida shared their observations from the week-long accreditation, particularly in the areas of faculty qualifications, student support, library resources, research initiatives, and extension services. He noted that the evaluation involved document assessment, classroom observation, interviews, and a virtual tour of facilities.
“We witnessed the passion and effort you invested in ensuring the excellence of your program,” Dr. Tugelida said. “Your positive response to our requests demonstrates your strong potential for success in future evaluations.”
BiPSU is now awaiting the accreditation results, which will be released by the AACCUP central office.
Meanwhile, in his message, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. emphasized that accreditation is not merely procedural but a reaffirmation of BiPSU’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and community service. “Moving forward, I am committed to transforming the feedback and findings from this visit into concrete actions that will benefit our students, our programs, and our shared futures,” Dr. Cañezo said.
According to the QAA Office, as of 2024, BiPSU has attained 100% AACCUP accreditation, with 33 academic programs from both the Naval and Biliran campuses undergoing rigorous evaluation. Of these, 13 programs have achieved Level III status, 14 are under Level II, and six programs, including the BTLEd, currently hold Level I status.
[This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education]