A total of twenty (20) TVET professionals gathered in CPSC-Manila from October 21-25 2019 to attend the Regional Program on Quality Assurance, targeted to thoroughly discuss the planned strategic plan of the Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission.

Representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Fiji, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand were able to attend the program, aimed to assist the Government of CPSC member countries with its initiatives by providing concept and knowledge on the organized structure for maintaining QMS and accreditations as quality assurance mechanisms.

The program was also intended for the participants to comprehend the need and importance of quality assurance in TVET, identify best practices in TVET Quality Assurance Systems in the Asia-Pacific region and gain insights on APACC accreditation as a continuous improvement approach to organizational excellence in TVET. The information from the 5-day activity aided the action plans that they have developed to enhance the quality of TVET in their respective countries.

The overall supervisor of this program is Dr. Ramhari Lamichhane, CPSC Director General and the program coordinator is Engr. Sanyog Bhattarai, CPSC Faculty Specialist. Additional resource persons involved in the program include: Dr. Vijay Patil, CPSC Seconded Faculty Consultant; Ms. Therese Tan Lee, Faculty Specialist; Engr. Abdul Ghani Rajput, CPSC Seconded Faculty and Mr. Rae Emmanuel Echaveria, Research, Publications and Information Officer.

The classroom activities consisted of lectures on the application of QMS in TVET, information about APACC and its role in continuous quality improvement, digitized M&E system in TVET and action planning. The half-day workshops, meanwhile, were able to include group discussions in APACC’s planned vision, mission, goals and objectives for the next five years, as well as its strategies and activities in support of the VMGO.

To supplement these discussions, a visit to TESDA Women’s Center, an APACC Gold-Accredited Institution, was included. In addition, they were able to see Don Bosco-One TVET Headquarters in the Philippines for a practical exposure about an actual TVET school. They were also able to go to key tourist sites in Metro Manila and appreciated the host city’s beautiful places.

The participants expressed their appreciation to CPSC and reiterated their commitment to actively push their respective TVET institutions to acquire APACC certification in the coming years.

Representatives from the CPSC Member countries while discussing Objective II of the planned APACC Strategic Plan.

Visit to the Don Bosco-OneTVET Philippines Headquarters in Makati City.