The Institute of Flexible Learning and Digital Education (IFLDE) of Rizal Technological University (RTU) successfully completed the ETEEAP SMART Training: Standards, Methods, and Assessment Readiness Training, a three-day professional development program held via Zoom on June 9–11, 2026. Organized to strengthen institutional competency in implementing the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), the training equipped RTU internal assessors with the knowledge, skills, and ethical grounding required to conduct rigorous, fair, and CHED-compliant prior learning assessments.
The program was structured around three thematic modules, each delivered by a nationally recognized ETEEAP expert and reinforced through open forums and collaborative breakout workshop sessions.
On Day 1, formal opening rites were followed by Welcome Remarks from Dr. Kristine Y. Opulencia, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and a Message of Support from Dr. Rome Sherriff G. Montoya, Dean of the College of Business, Entrepreneurship, and Accountancy.
The first resource speaker, Dr. Verjun J. Dilla, ETEEAP Program Coordinator of Central Luzon State University (CLSU), presented Topic 1: ETEEAP Assessment Methods, Documentation, and Ethical Standards. Dr. Dilla grounded participants in the methodological and regulatory foundations of ETEEAP assessment, covering documentation requirements and the ethical standards governing prior learning evaluation. The session concluded with an open forum and a plenary workshop, allowing participants to apply the frameworks covered in structured assessment exercises.
On Day 2, Dr. Analyn I. Diola, ETEEAP Focal Person of Pangasinan State University-Asingan, delivered Topic 2: Quality Assurance and Practical Application in ETEEAP Implementation. Dr. Diola examined the quality assurance mechanisms essential to sound ETEEAP administration, including portfolio evaluation protocols, evidence triangulation, and the alignment of assessment criteria with program learning outcomes. Participants subsequently engaged in Workshop Session 2 as a breakout activity, applying quality assurance principles to simulated ETEEAP scenarios, with structured feedback provided by the resource speaker to reinforce accurate and defensible assessment practices.
The final day featured Dr. Robert A. Salvador, ETEEAP Chief of Mariano Marcos State University, who presented Topic 3: Competency Mapping and Credit Evaluation in ETEEAP. Addressing the most technically complex dimension of the assessment process, Dr. Salvador equipped participants with frameworks for systematically mapping professional competencies to academic equivalencies and determining appropriate credit allocations.
A breakout workshop followed by a plenary presentation of selected group outputs allowed participants to demonstrate and refine their competency mapping skills. Closing Remarks were delivered by Dr. Faith Micah D. Abenes-Balbin, Institute Director of IFLDE, who commended participants for their active engagement and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to quality-assured ETEEAP implementation. The program concluded with the awarding of certificates to resource speakers, an activity feedback survey, and the RTU Hymn.
The ETEEAP SMART Training underscores RTU’s commitment to institutional integrity, methodological excellence, and inclusive education. By investing in the professional formation of its assessors, RTU ensures that the ETEEAP process remains a credible, equitable, and academically rigorous pathway for non-traditional learners seeking formal tertiary recognition.