The Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP) has started its three-day accreditation survey visit at Rizal Technological University (RTU), with Six Graduate Programs being evaluated. Spearheaded by the Quality Assurance Office (QAO) and held at SNAGAH Penthouse (arranged via hybrid), the evaluation started on May 15, 2024, through an opening ceremony.

Dr. Edna P. Conwi, QAO Director, welcomed the esteemed members of the AACCUP, led by their overall chair, Dr. Elsa P. Manarpaac. Dr. Conwi highlighted the relevance and importance of the program accreditation to RTU’s bid for standard and high-quality advanced education program offerings, a testament to the university’s commitment to lead and be on par with other educational institutions in the country. She also emphasized that having an enthusiastic and open-minded approach in the execution of the survey processes would result in well-examined and highly positive outputs.

Moreover, Dr. Kristine Y. Opulencia, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs (VPASA), gave an opening remarks, followed by Dr. Rodolfo L. Ducut, Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA). Both of them expressed their enthusiasm for the ongoing quality initiatives of the university, highlighting that collaborative efforts ensure academic excellence and institutional growth.

The six graduate programs under study are Masters in Business Administration (MBA), Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration (PhD PA), Master of Arts in Psychology (MAIP), Master of Arts in Educational Management (MAEM), Master of Arts in Literature and Language Instruction (MALLI), and Master of Arts in Public Administration (MAPA) and were subjected to Level III Phase 2 accreditation.

Following the program preliminaries, through break-out sessions with various departments, comprehensive video presentations detailing each program were showcased, while accreditors delved deeper by gathering additional information from program chairs and coordinators.

Accreditors Dr. Marilou P. Pascual from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, alongside Dr. Emma Vida R. Liwanag from Mindoro State University, handled the Masters in Business Administration. Anne Grace M. Labatete from Marinduque State College and Dr. Aurora E. Araojo from Catanduanes State University were in charge of the examination for the Master of Arts in Public Administration; Dr. Erly M. Martir from Guimaras State University and Dr. Carlo F. Vadil from Nueva Vizcaya State University handled the Doctor of Philosophy in Public Administration program.

For the Master of Arts in Psychology, accreditors were  Dr. Jellian T. Ricafrente from Marinduque State College and Dr. Marie Paz H. Angeles from Tarlac State University, while the Master of Arts in Educational Management accreditation was led by Dr. Felimon A. Pamittan from Nueva Vizcaya State University and Dr. Allena R. Fabiosa from the University of Eastern Philippines. 

The Master of Arts in Literature and Language Instruction accreditors, Dr. Marietta B. Arinto from Leyte Normal University and Dr. Susan B. Pineda from Marinduque State College, likewise led the program’s examination processes.

These accreditation processes underscore the commitment of the university to quality-standard education for its graduate programs—a demonstration of its unwavering commitment to uphold its mandate by providing opportunities and developing a more tailored curriculum that meets the evolving needs of its stakeholders.