As foolproof testament of Pangasinan State University’s top-notch management system, a two-day virtual surveillance audit of its Quality Management System (QMS) kick-started on April 15 – 16 via Zoom.

Charged with fervent drive to uphold its culture of quality, PSU led by the Office of the Vice President for Quality Assurance headed by Dr. Elbert M. Galas in league with Dr. Weenalei T. Fajardo, Director for Institutional Assessment and Accreditation, underwent a rigorous two-day QMS virtual surveillance audit with SOCOTEC Certification International—PSU’s certifying agency.

SOCOTEC Certification Int’l is a recognized certification body and a leading provider of accredited ISO certification services spanning across 26 countries. Its audit team include Mr. Erwin Quinto (Lead Auditor), Ms. Merce Flores, Mr. John Joseph Doneta, Ms. Laureen Grace Calmerin (Support Auditors).

Amongst the campuses that came to grips with the ‘acid test’ of QMS audit were: Infanta Campus (Site 3); Sta. Maria Campus (Site 5); Binmaley Campus (Site 7); Alaminos City Campus (Site 9); Lingayen Campus and select offices from the Main Campus, particularly Admission/Registrar Office, Human Resource Mgmt. & Dev’t Office, Plant Facility Development, Information, Comm. Tech Office assisted by Institutional assessment accreditation directors/unit heads, and internal auditors.

Each involved campus/office was cross-examined according to SOCOTEC’s ambit of certification knuckled down to the following: Provision of tertiary education services in instruction, research, extension, and production; University level management processes; Performance evaluation, and improvement processes; Campus support services encompassing the period from March 2020 to March 2021. Concerned CEDs and University officials were subjected to scrutiny germane to their internal processes and documentation, and justified how they administered constant improvement throughout, notwithstanding the predicaments posed by the pandemic, and the sudden shift in education set-up.

The event served as touchstone of the Institution’s gold-standard in policies, processes, internal procedures hammered out adhering to ISO9001:2015. Chiefly focused on rectification and reinforcement of the identified nonconformities and observations from SOCOTEC’s audit of all the nine (9) campuses first quarter last year.

Though fleeting and seemingly fast-tracked, the two-day virtual surveillance survey encapsulated a year-long of grueling and painstaking preparation accompanied by successive conferences and internal audit. A Herculean task trailblazed by University President, Dr. Dexter R. Buted together with PSU academic council and Top Management headed accordingly by Dr. Manolito C. Manuel (VP for Academic Affairs & Support Services/QMR), Dr. Marcelo C. Gutierrez Jr. (VP for Planning, Finance & Management), Dr. Paulo V. Cenas (VP for Research, Extension & Innovation), Dr. Maria Corazon B. Puzon (VP for Administration), and Dr. Elbert M. Galas (VP for Quality Assurance).

Strengthening the pillars of PSU’s Quality Management System is the pool of internal quality auditors composed of Dr. Narciso Castro, Prof. Cristie Marie Dalisay, Dr. And Julie Rosal, Dr. Erna Salazar, Dr. Jenylyn Oboza, Dr. Jeanilyn Villanueva, Dr. Catalina Platon, Dr. Salvacion Vinluan, Ms. Charlaine Lopez, Ms. Ma. Odessa M. Pacaul, Mr. John F. Quinto, Prof. Celeste T. Mercado, Dr. Rosario DL. Valencerina, Mr. Jofel John G. Lodriguito, Dr. Grace M. Suratos, Dr. Amelita M. De Vera, Engr. Jerves M. Geron, Prof. Geronimo R. Rosario, Mr. John Mark P. Haban, Ms. Jennifer R. Miguel, Dr. William V. Cayetano, Dr. Zosima M. Sison, Dr. Benson Liester Flores, Dr. Razeale G. Resultay, Prof. Arceli Adoracion G. Ramos, Engr. Marilyn M. Albior, Mr. Arni-Rie F. Tamayo, Dr. Cielo C. Fernandez, Dr. Joseph B. Campit, and Ms. Sarah Jane M. Ferrer.

As Pangasinan State University envisage to become an ASEAN Premier State University—keeping intact its guiding philosophy and core values—PSU will continue to soar greater heights even in the midst of these uncertain times. /ksg