(1) 4th External Quality Review banner; (2) DLVM and MPM Reviewers with VCAA Aurora Lacaste and QAO Director Ria Valerie Cabanes, together with the DLVM and MPM SAR Writing Teams and other participants at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th External Quality Review; (3) DLVM and MPM SAR Writing Teams and Reviewers, together with QAO Director Ria Valerie Cabanes and VCAA Aurora Lacaste at the Closing Ceremony of the 4th External Quality Review; (4) Participants during the Closing Ceremony of the 4th External Quality Review.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), through the Quality Assurance Office (QAO), successfully conducted its 4th External Quality Review (EQR) from 21 to 23 April 2026 at the UPOU Community Hub. This round of review focused on the Diploma in Land Valuation and Management (DLVM) and the Master of Public Management (MPM) programs.
The three-day event began with an opening ceremony, during which Chancellor Joane Serrano emphasized that the EQR reaffirms UPOU’s commitment to ensuring that its academic offerings remain responsive to the needs of the Filipino nation and its communities, while aligning with regional and international standards. She also highlighted that the review provides an opportunity to reflect on program strengths, identify areas for improvement, and ensure that UPOU’s degree programs remain relevant and future-ready.
Dr. Joane Serrano, UPOU Chancellor, delivering her opening remarks during the Opening Ceremony of the 4th External Quality Review.
The review was facilitated by a distinguished panel of reviewers:
- DLVM Lead Reviewer: Dr. Ma. Amihan B. Ramolete, Professor and former Dean, College of Arts and Letters, UP Diliman
- DLVM External Reviewer: Dr. Melinda F. Lumanta, Lecturer (Retired UP Professor) and former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UP Open University
- MPM Lead Reviewer: Dr. Edmund G. Centeno, Dean, College of Development Communication, UP Los Baños
- MPM External Reviewer: Dr. Emely M. Amoloza, Assistant Professor of Multimedia Arts and Development Communication and QA Officer, Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, UP Open University
(L-R) Dr. Ma. Amihan Ramolete, DLVM Lead Reviewer; Dr. Melinda Lumanta, DLVM External Reviewer; Dr. Emely Amoloza, MPM External Reviewer; and Dr. Edmund Centeno, MPM Lead Reviewer.
The review process included program briefings, meetings with the Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) and Self-Assessment Report (SAR) Writing Teams of DLVM and MPM, as well as interviews with academic staff, support staff, students, alumni, and employers.
(1) MPM SAR Writing Team and Reviewers during the Program Briefing session; (2) DLVM SAR Writing Team and Reviewers, together with FMDS Dean Finaflor Taylan, joining online during the Program Briefing session.
It also covered visits to physical and virtual facilities and systems, including academic and learning systems, learning resources, research and publications, student and faculty support services, and administrative and safety systems.
MPM and DLVM Reviewers during the Physical Facilities Visit at UPOU (1) Library; (2) World Class Multimedia Production Building; (3) Office of the University Registrar; and (4) Information and Communication Technology Development Office.
The event concluded with a closing ceremony, during which the reviewers presented their preliminary findings based on inputs gathered from various stakeholders, as well as their evaluation of the programs’ SARs during the desktop review.
Preliminary findings on the DLVM and MPM programs presented by the Reviewers: (1) Dr. Ma. Amihan Ramolete, DLVM Lead Reviewer; (2) Dr. Edmund Centeno, MPM Lead Reviewer; (3) Dr. Melinda Lumanta, DLVM External Reviewer; and (4) Dr. Emely Amoloza, MPM External Reviewer.
With this fourth batch of EQR, a total of seven (7) UPOU degree programs have now been reviewed using the AUN-QA Framework. The five (5) programs reviewed in earlier batches are as follows:
- Batch 1: Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS)
- Batch 2: Diploma in Computer Science (DCS) and Master of Information Systems (MIS)
- Batch 3: Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) and Master of Development Communication (MDC)
The QAO remains committed to supporting the remaining UPOU degree programs that are yet to undergo external quality review, ensuring sustained quality assurance and the continuous improvement of all UPOU academic offerings.
Written by Maelyn Pisueña | Edited by Ria Cabanes, Primo Garcia and Anna Cañas-Llamas | Photo by Office of Public Affairs
