The key to creating an ideal place for learning building a culture of quality assurance. More than the physical capability to conduct classes, it is an environment that assures quality in all aspects of the teaching and learning process.
Centro Escolar University (CEU) has received an array of institutional awards including local and international accreditations. These recognitions recognize its efforts of periodically reviewing and enhancing its curricular programs, upgrading and making up-to-date its laboratories and facilities, and assessing and making its institutional processes and services responsive. All of these contribute to improving the quality of teaching and learning.
After completing the requirements in all criteria, four programs of CEU have been recently certified by the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Quality Assurance under the latest version of the AUN-QA assessment criteria: Expected Learning Outcomes, Program Structure and Content, Teaching and Learning Approach, Student Assessment, Academic Staff, Student Support Services, Facilities and Infrastructure, and Output and Outcomes and supported by evidences and exhibits, site tours and interviews with selected stakeholders including academic and support staff, students, alumni, and employers. The prestigious certifications were granted to Bachelor of Science in International Hospitality Management, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology in its Manila, Makati and Malolos campuses, and Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media for Manila and Malolos campuses.
These four programs are now added to the eight AUN-QA certified programs of the University in Biology, Dentistry, International Tourism and Travel Management, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Optometry, Pharmacy, and Psychology for Manila campus.
Adding to this mark of quality is the three-star overall rating earned by CEU based on the University Performance Metrics (UPM), a new university rating system initiated and developed by researchers from Vietnam National University in Hanoi, which promotes benchmarking among universities. CEU was among the three universities from the Philippines rated in 2020, out of the overall 40 participating schools from different countries. In this rating system, university performance evaluation is assessed in 54 indicators. The rating received by CEU bespeaks of global competence and exemplary reputation characterized by the ability to facilitate student mobility in ASEAN countries. CEU specifically got four stars in strategic performance, education, IT infrastructure, and community services.
CEU also ranked 26th in the overall results of Applied HE Private University Ranking: ASEAN, a sophisticated higher education ranking system that considers different dimensions of an institutions’ performance based on multiple sources of data. The assessment is based on the institution’s quality of teaching and learning (40 percent), employability (15 percent), research (15 percent), community engagement (10 percent), internationalization (10 percent), and institutional reputation (10 percent). CEU is the first Philippine School to participate in this ranking and it ranked 1st in the teaching and learning criterion among the eight participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the country and 12th among 29 Southeast Asian countries.
Prior to these prestigious ratings at the international level, CEU Manila, Makati, and Malolos campuses were given the Institutional Sustainability Assessment (ISA) certification by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) signifying its capacity to translate policies and strategies into quality programs and quality results. The presence, implementation, outcomes, and effectiveness of the University’s Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) systems were evaluated and obtained a rating of 3 in most of the indicators under five key results areas (KRAs): governance and management; quality of teaching and learning; quality of professional exposure, research, and creative work; support for students; and relations with the community.
These international certifications of quality service in education add to the accreditation from Philippine-based accrediting agencies. CEU received the Highest Level of Accreditation, Level IV, from the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA) as certified by the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) for its programs on Biology, Dentistry, Education (Elementary and Secondary), Medical Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Pharmacy for Manila campus; Liberal Arts (Mass Communication and Political Science), Business Administration, and Psychology for Manila and Malolos campuses. CEU’s graduate programs—Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science for Manila campus—were also granted this status.
Its Nursing and Social Work programs for Manila campus have also earned the Highest Level of accreditation, Level III, by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU).
These highly acknowledged accreditations and certifications of the University affirm the significant transformation of its policies and practices expressing its true commitment to quality management to maintain the desired level of excellence for its students, alumni, employees and other stakeholders. These are the results of the dedication and collaborative efforts of all the members of the CEU community in ensuring delivery of premium education.
From the CEU’s founders, Doña Librada Avelino and Doña Carmen De Luna to its current President and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, the vision of the University of helping the youth realize their dreams and contribute to national and global progress continue to be sustained amidst the ever-changing dynamics of a globalized educational system.