University News

Quality Engineering Programs: PTC Awards Tier 1 Status to the Sintang Paaralan

Jan Vincent Lanuza, News, Communication Management Office

The Quality Assurance Center (QAC), following the successful assessment and evaluation of engineering practices, led the awarding ceremony of the College of Engineering’s (COE) attainment of the Philippine Technological Council’s (PTC) Tier 1 status at Silid Lakan Dayang, University Library on April 24.

The COE's success signifies the quality of its engineering programs and ensures national recognition and alignment with the Washington Accord—an international agreement among bodies responsible for accrediting engineering degree programs.

University President Dr. Manuel M. Muhi expressed his gratitude to the PTC for this achievement and to the QAC and COE for their hard work on making this accomplishment possible.

“This reflects our collective commitment to excellence, to global standards in engineering education. We are now recognized under the Washington Accord, which means our engineering programs are substantially equivalent among signatory nations, and this will facilitate the mobility of our graduates, allowing them to work and be recognized globally.” Muhi said.

Muhi added that this recognition advances PUP's goal of becoming the country's leading polytechnic university, contributing significantly to polytechnic and engineering education by elevating local programs to international standards.

QAC Director Dr. Sanjay P. Claudio noted that the University’s quality assurance goal is not just to achieve local accreditation, but also international recognition to raise education standards for the welfare of the Iskolar ng Bayan.

“We’re not doing this for the sake of rankings,” Claudio said. “We really do all of this, submitting our course programs for external quality assurance, [it’s] because of our students. We believe that quality, first and foremost, is our responsibility. We need to make sure that we’re able to submit and humbly get the opinion, as well as assessment of external accrediting bodies so that we would be able to improve and address all these concerns.”

The Sintang Paaralan, with this achievement, is now the third state university to attain PTC Tier 1 status, following the University of the Philippines and the Batangas State University in this honor.

Following this new accolade, the two offices will soon begin their preparations for the Accreditation and Certification Board for Engineering and Technology (ACBET) visit this September. ACBET, the PTC's accreditation body, will assess PUP's engineering programs for further alignment with Washington Accord standards, helping students and alumni access international engineering practice.

After remarks from Claudio and Muhi, PTC President Engr. Federico A. Monsada discussed the organization's history and role in advancing engineering education, as well as the field's significance to societal development. Assistant Director for Institutional and International Quality Assurance Dr. Luisito L. Lacatan then delivered the closing remarks, emphasizing that "excellence is not a destination, but a continuing pursuit."

Also present to witness the proceedings were University officials, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Planning and Finance Prof. Alberto C. Guillo and Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs Edelyn M. Mariano-Guillo, alongside accreditation leaders ACBET Chair Dr. Lydia G. Tansinsin and Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) Chair Dr. May Rose C. Imperial. PUP deans, COE officials, Quality Assurance coordinators, and PTC members also attended.

PUP’s new Tier 1 status reflects its mission to improve engineering education for aspiring engineers from the Sintang Paaralan, demonstrating its commitment to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): No. 4 in quality education, No. 8 in providing decent work and economic growth and No. 17 in forming and strengthening multi-stakeholder partnerships.