TWO UNDERGRADUATE programs of the UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences (CRS), physical therapy and occupational therapy, have been granted the Asean University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) stamp.
The programs received the certification on June 3. AUN-QA assessed the programs in November 2020.
“Achieving excellence is always a work in progress, never a quick fix, and we continue what was started and always try to strive to make a better rendition of it,” CRS Dean Dr. Anne Marie Aseron told the Varsitarian.
The AUN-QA certifications validated the college’s vision, Aseron said. CRS wants to be: 1.) the standard for academic excellence, research and community service; 2.) the preferred school for rehabilitation sciences programs; 3.) the top-performing school in licensure exams; and 4.) the recipient of the highest accreditation levels, she said.
The AUN-QA certification is the first international recognition received by the physical therapy program and the second for the occupational therapy program, which has been accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapy since 2010.
Aseron said the college’s sports science and speech-language pathology programs were strong candidates for accreditation by Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (Pacucoa).
“In 2019, these two programs received the candidacy status…Both programs are due for Pacucoa Level I accreditation in the next academic year and are receiving ample guidance and support from the older siblings, physical therapy and occupational therapy,” she said.
AUN-QA is the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ quality assurance mechanism for higher education in the 10-member regional bloc.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy joined 12 other programs in UST that are AUN-QA certified, namely: accountancy, biochemistry, biology, chemical engineering, chemistry, electronics engineering, elementary education, medical technology, nursing, pharmacy, psychology and secondary education.
