MANILA, Philippines - Further responding to the challenge of globalization for the Philippine education sector, more Mapúa programs recently gained accreditation from ABET, the US-based leading accrediting body for applied science, engineering, computing, and technology programs in universities and colleges worldwide.
In addition to three programs that gained accreditation last year — BS Electrical Engineering (EE), BS Electronics Engineering (ECE), and BS Computer Engineering (CpE) — seven other programs have been certified, namely: BS Chemical Engineering (ChE), BS Civil Engineering (CE), BS Computer Science (CS), BS Environmental and Sanitary Engineering (EnSE), BS Industrial Engineering (IE), BS Information Technology (IT), and BS Mechanical Engineering (ME).
“I think the Mapúa community can be justifiably proud of this singular achievement because it has come after years of unflagging hard work and superb teamwork,” enthused Dr. Reynaldo Vea, the Institute’s president and chief executive officer. “While it serves Mapúa well, it also improves the standing of Philippine engineering education before the international community of engineers and computing professionals.”
Engr. Conrado Navalta, director of Mapúa’s Continuous Quality Improvement Office, also believes that getting the international accreditation would mean “mobility of Filipino engineers and IT professionals to practice their professions in other countries where ABET is recognized,” specifically in the United States.
“ABET is the widely recognized accreditation agency in the USA, so we can safely say that our engineering and computing programs are equal in standards with those offered in prominent universities in the USA,” Navalta said.
The ABET seal of quality education means a lot for a school that seeks global status, as it entails establishment of a rigorous education system that will enable the school to produce graduates that are sure to meet international standards - the Outcomes-Based Education system (OBE).
“Mapúa is the first school in the country to adopt the OBE,” explained executive vice president for academic affairs Dr. Bonifacio Doma Jr. “It basically zeroes in on outcomes.”
Dr. Doma explained that outputs are the total number of graduates in a program, while outcomes refer to the abilities the students have acquired at the time of graduation and the abilities that they will learn many years after graduation.
With more ABET-accredited programs, Mapúa graduates will have more work opportunities abroad.
“More Mapúans now have the advantage to work in other countries where ABET is recognized without having to be re-certified there,” said Dr. Doma. “They now belong to the graduates of top-caliber international engineering and computing schools who are internationally certified.”