By Francis Neil G. Jalando-on

The Fortress College officials with the CPU personnel who facilitated the Quality Assurance Mentorship Program.

In a bid to elevate the standards of higher education, Fortress College and Fellowship Baptist College in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, took a significant step by participating in a transformative Quality Assurance Mentorship Program by Central Philippine University. Held on August 24 and August 25, 2023, respectively, this program aimed to bolster the institutions’ quality assurance (QA) mechanisms and internationalization strategies.

There were 9 heads of the Fortress College headed by College President Mrs. Grace Tingson-Hughes who attended the program on August 24. In Fellowship Baptist College, their College President Dr. Marietta G. Villegas, who is a Centralian, brought with her 10 heads in the seminar on August 25.

The Fellowship Baptist College officials, together with the CPU personnel during the Quality Assurance Mentorship Program.

The objectives of the Mentorship Program were outlined as follows:

1. Examine the institution’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.
2. Examine the institution’s existing quality assurance (QA) and internationalization mechanisms.
3. Provide tools/information on how the PHEI can improve its existing QA and internationalization mechanisms.
4. Design a QA framework based on the PHEI’s specific context.
5. Guide the PHEI in the improvement of its QA and internationalization systems.

Rev. Francis Neil G. Jalando-on, Director of the CPU Office of Communications, shed light on “The Importance of Mission, Vision, and Core Values” and shared insights into “The History and Development of CPU’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values.”

Dr. Anna May Y. Zerrudo, Director of the CPU Quality Assurance and Accreditation Center (QAAC), addressed “Designing Effective Quality Management Systems in Higher Education Institutions.” She also discussed “Tools and Procedures for Quality Assurance in Higher Education Institutions.”

Prof. Sharlene G. Gotico, Associate Director of QAAC at CPU, shared valuable insights into “Quality Assurance of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education Institutions.” On the other hand, Prof. Kay Arden Q. Gallo, Director of the CPU Local and International Linkages and Affiliations Center (LILAC), delved into the crucial topic of “Internationalization Mechanism for HEIs,” drawing from CPU’s own successful internationalization initiatives.

The Mentorship Program concluded on a high note, leaving participants equipped with a renewed sense of purpose and a roadmap to bolster their institutions’ quality assurance and internationalization endeavors. As Fortress College and Fellowship Baptist College continue to evolve as academic institutions, this initiative sets the stage for a brighter future for higher education in Negros Occidental and beyond.