Evaluators from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Regional Quality Assessment Team (RQAT) and the CHED Central Office Technical Committee carried out a Joint Validation Visit for the College of Engineering (COE) programs of ESSU Main, ESSU Guiuan, and ESSU Salcedo campuses on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Under review for this visit were the BS in Civil Engineering (BSCE), BS in Computer Engineering (BSCpE), BS in Electrical Engineering (BSEE), and Master in Engineering Major in Civil Engineering of the Main Campus; BS in Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering (BSABE) and BS in Computer Engineering (BSCpE) of the Salcedo Campus; and the BS Civil Engineering (BSCE) of the Guiuan Campus.
Showing their explicit support for this exercise was the ESSU leadership led by University President, Dr. Andres C. Pagatpatan, Jr., Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Vicente A. Agda, Jr., and Vice President for Administration, Dr. Rhodora C. Mendoza. Led by their Dean, Dr. Ernesto T. Anacta, the entire COE leadership, faculty, staff, and students were all on board to do their part in the undertaking.
Bannered by none other than CHEDRO8 Director, Dr. Maximo C. Aljibe, the evaluating team was led by Dr. Catherine O. Iglesias—OIC Supervising Education Program Specialist, with her RQAT Members composed of Dr. Felisa E. Gomba (ME), Dr. Hansel Naval-Mejia (BSCE), Engr. Aprille Ellen E. Quebada (BSCE), Engr. Mark Teotimo S. Reyes (BSEE), Engr. Meddy Mangaring (BSEE), Engr. John Alvin Macariola (BSCpE), Engr. Jameson C. Buhayang (BSCpE), and Education Supervisor II, Ms. Nelly L. Labrada.
Moreover, joining online via Zoom from the CHED Central Office Technical Committee were Dr. Peter M. Ureta, Engr. Flordeliza Villasenor, Engr. Noel Linsangan, Dr. Juana T. Tapel, and Engr. Ricardo L. Fornis, further enriching the evaluation process with their expertise and insights.
The evaluators scrutinized documentary evidence, inspected facilities, and engaged in an intensive face-to-face inquiry with the faculty and college administrators to ensure that the programs adhere to the prescribed policies on curriculum, faculty qualifications, instructional facilities, and student support services, seeing to it that they all align with national and international competency standards for engineering education.
After the tedious evaluation process, the RQAT team laid out their findings and recommendations, which Dr. Pagatpatan addressed with his acceptance and message of commitment. Earning a very positive review outcome, COE will now move to working on complying with a significantly attainable set of line items that the evaluation team recommended for further reform and enhancement within 30 days from the validation visit.
For his part, Dr. Aljibe verbalized how pleased he is with the preparations and the work that the entire college has done for this objective. He further expressed that he has “not a single iota of doubt” that the College of Engineering will obtain the coveted COPC for all its programs evaluated in this visit. Dr. Pagatpatan, on the other hand, articulated his appreciation for the evaluation team for their support and guidance. He also assured them that the University has the funding and manpower to secure the ultimate prize, with the biggest aim of maintaining the highest standards in order to continue offering the programs and help the thousands of students and their families.
