Catching Up with September, AUN-QA PA Overview: 345th, 346th, 348th, 341st, and 349th PA

It has been nearly a month since our last AUN-QA Programme Assessments overview, and the AUN-QA team continues going strong for the month of September, 2023. For this week’s overview, we have five PAs to cover with universities from Viet Nam, The Philippines, and Thailand bringing along a wide variety of programmes for the AUN-QA team to assess. No matter the field of programme, the assessors of AUN-QA are always ready to provide top quality assessment!

345^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Ho Chi Minh University of Technology (HUTECH)

The 345^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment was held onsite at HUTECH, Viet Nam, from 5 - 7, September 2023. Two study programmes were assessed, namely:

1. Construction Management Programme
2. Pharmacy Programme

• HUTECH is under the Ministry of Education and Training
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) is one among the leading private universities in Vietnam. Since its establishment in 1995, the university has become a multi-disciplinary higher education institution with the name “HUTECH” being recognized and highly regarded nationally. HUTECH has received several national recognitions, including the Second Labor Order from the President and the Government Emulation Flag. 
• Formerly known as “Ho Chi Minh City University of Engineering and Technology”, the institution’s current name was later adopted in 2013. Over 25 years of development, HUTECH has achieved several important milestones and accomplishments from academic advancement and research excellence to infrastructure investment and campus expansion to ensure a high-quality teaching and learning environment provided for its growing student population. Started out as small urban campus located in the city’s Binh Thanh District, HUTECH has grown to include two additional facilities, as well as a satellite campus that houses the Highly-skilled Workforce Training Center and the Hi-tech Research Institute situated within Saigon Hi-tech Park in District 9. These campuses offer classrooms and laboratories as well as supporting facilities including library, self-study areas, canteen, gym, indoor and outdoor sport facilities, etc. 
• At the present, HUTECH has 10 institutes, 12 faculties, 24 functional departments, offices and centers and library with about 1751 full-time staff members including 1601 academic staff and 150 non-academic staff. Being a comprehensive university, HUTECH offers a wide-range of domestic and international training programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, including: 02 PhD’s programmes; 11 Master’s programmes; 51 Bachelor’s programmes; 7 joint training programmes.
• This was HUTECH’s 2^nd Programme Assessment with AUN-QA and their 1^st onsite Programme Assessment with AUN-QA.

346^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Centro Escolar University (CEU)

The 346^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment was held onsite at CEU, The Phillippines, from 12 - 14 September, 2023. Four study programmes were assessed, namely:

1. Bachelor of Science in Social Work
2. Bachelor of Music in Music Education
3. Bachelor of Science in Cosmetic Science
4. Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

• CEU is under the Commission on Higher Education
• Centro Escolar University is one of the leading higher education institutions in the country that advocates quality education since its beginning in 1907. CEU became a full university in 1932. With three campuses and over 50 academic programs, CEU has sustained its quality assurance mechanisms as shown by the number of certifications it has received from various organizations namely: Full Autonomy Status for the 3 campuses by the Commission on Higher Education; Philippine Quality Award for Proficiency in Quality Management System – Manila and Malolos Campuses by the Department of Trade and Industry; ISO 9001:2015 for the 3 campuses by the Societe Generale de Surveillance (SGS); Companies Circle Award by the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Papal Award by the Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice. Currently, CEU is implementing flexible learning through CEU Learning Engagement and Proficiency System. The online modules with self-directed activities, including assessments are largely covered asynchronously.
• This was CEU’s 7^th Programme Assessment with AUN-QA

348^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Can Tho University (CTU)

The 348^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment was held onsite at CTU, Viet Nam, from 19 - 21 September, 2023. Four study programmes were assessed, namely:

1. Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering
2. Bachelor of Engineering in Environment and Natural Resources Management
3. Bachelor of Engineering in Animal Science
4. Bachelor in Veterinary Medicine

• CTU is under the Ministry of Education and Training
• Can Tho University was initially named as Can Tho Institute of Higher Learning at its establishment in 1966. Since 1975 it has been named as Can Tho University (CTU). CTU is the driving force having decisive influence on the development of the Mekong Delta region (MDR) of Vietnam. CTU is the national key university and known as the center of cultures, sciences and technologies of the MDR; ranked in the top 351-400 universities in Agriculture and Forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021); a member of the ASEAN University Network (AUN); received the JICA President Award in 2019; recognized to comply with the institutional accreditation standards of the Ministry of Education and Training in 2018. CTU currently offers 109 bachelor’s, 48 master’s and 19 doctoral training programmes to a total number of some 47,594 students. The strongest majors belong to Agriculture, Aquaculture, Technology and Environment.

341^st AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Holy Angel University (HAU)

The 341^st AUN-QA Programme Assessment was held onsite at HAU, The Philippines, from 26 - 28 September, 2023. One study programme was assessed, namely:

1. Bachelor of Arts in Communication

• HAU is under the Commission on Higher Education
• Founded in 1933, HAU is the first Catholic university in the Philippines that was established by the laity. It envisions itself to become a role-model catalyst for countryside development and one of the most influential, best-managed Catholic universities in the Asia-Pacific region. A private, not-for-profit institution, HAU offers accessible quality education that transforms students into persons of conscience, competence, and compassion. The Business Programs of the University are accredited by the IACBE while the Hospitality Management Programs are certified by the ACPHA. A total of 37 HAU academic programs are recognized by the national accrediting agencies PAASCU and PACUCOA. The holistic approach of HAU to attain quality and excellence while fostering character formation anchored on the University’s core values has brought forth institutional certifications, which include ISO 9001:2015 and the Philippine Quality Award, and international recognition as a School of Character.
• This was HAU’s 5^th Programme Assessment and their 2^nd onsite Programme Assessment with AUN-QA.

349^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment at Mae Fah Luang University (MFU)

The 349^th AUN-QA Programme Assessment was held onsite at MFU, Thailand, from 26 - 28 September, 2023. Four study programmes were assessed, namely:

1. Bachelor of Science Program in Applied Chemistry
2. Bachelor of Science Program in Environmental Health
3. Bachelor of Science Program in Occupational Health and Safety
4. Bachelor of Applied Thai Traditional Medicine Program

• MFU is under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation
• Mae Fah Luang University (MFU) was established as an autonomous public university, under the Royal Charter, in 1998, with generous support from the Royal Thai Government. From its inaugural class of 64 students in 1998, MFU has become Thailand's fastest growing post-secondary institution with an enrollment of just under 15,000 students. After little over a decade of operation, MFU is already well known for its high-quality teaching, research, and service to the people of the north, as well as Thailand.
• This was MFU’s 2^nd Programme Assessment and their 2^nd onsite Programme Assessment with AUN-QA.