Front row (L-R): External assessors, Asst. Prof. Joel de Castro and Asst. Prof. Tricia Ascan; Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Aurora V. Lacaste; UPOU Chancellor, Dr. Joane V. Serrano (center); Vice-Chancellor for Finance and Administration, Dr. Jean A. Saludadez; FICS Dean, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr.; and UPOU QAO Director, Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes. Back row (L-R): MDC Program Support Staff, Ms. Angeline D. Fortes; FICS QA Officer, Dr. Emely M. Amoloza; MDC Program Chair, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel; MDC SAR Writer, Asst. Prof. Luisa A. Gelisan; and FICS University Researcher, Ms. Jessa G. Perez.
The UP Open University’s (UPOU) Master of Development Communication (MDC) program, under the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), was one of two academic programs evaluated during the 3rd External Quality Assurance (EQA) Assessment, held on 3–5 September 2025. Alongside the Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) offered by the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), the MDC program underwent a rigorous review process to ensure academic excellence, relevance, and alignment with international standards.
The MDC program is also the fourth FICS program to undergo an external quality review. It follows the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS), the Diploma in Computer Science (DCS), and the Master of Information Systems (MIS), all of which were previously assessed under the same process.
The MDC self-assessment report writers (L-R), Asst. Prof. Luisa Gelisan, Dr. Shari Eunice San Pablo, and Dr. Myra Almodiel (2nd from the right) with the assessors Asst. Prof. Tricia Ascan and Asst. Prof. Joel de Castro (center); and Dean Figueroa (rightmost).
Over the three-day evaluation, the MDC program hosted sessions at the Sandbox, a collaborative learning hub at UPOU. The assessment opened with program briefings and faculty meetings, where the program’s milestones and directions were presented. This was followed by a series of interviews starting with FICS Dean Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., and the Self-Assessment Report (SAR) writing team composed of MDC Program Chair, Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, Asst. Prof. Luisa A. Gelisan, and Dr. Shari Eunice T. San Pablo. Additionally, interviews with selected academic staff and support personnel, provided reviewers with a full picture of the program’s delivery and operations.
The second day highlighted the voices of students, alumni, and employers, who shared how the MDC program has shaped their professional growth and contributed to development communication practices in diverse fields. A clarification meeting with the SAR Writing Team rounded out the day, ensuring that the program’s achievements and areas for improvement were well captured.
Chancellor Joane V. Serrano also graced the event, delivering the welcome message. On the third and final day, FICS Dean Roberto Figueroa, Jr., and FMDS Dean Finaflor Taylan gave their closing remarks in response to the assessment. Dean Figueroa acknowledged that the EQA is a necessary process for the program’s development, “The process encourages a culture of reflection, as the objective evaluation helps identify the “blind spots” that we may have overlooked and exposes us to new perspectives needed for MDC to be continuously relevant,” he said.
The review concluded on September 5 at the CCDL Auditorium, where the external reviewers presented preliminary findings and insights on both programs under evaluation. For UPOU, the MDC program’s EQA review serves as both recognition of its strengths and a roadmap for further innovation in delivering quality open and distance learning. This initiative is part of the UPOU Quality Assurance Office’s (QAO) mandate to ensure the quality of the university’s instruction, research, public service, and administration. The office also aligns programs with institutional goals and develops systems for data-driven improvement and innovation.
Written by Joy Rebulanan and Angeline Fortes | Edited by Myra Almodiel
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