The Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (ALCUCOA) has demonstrated its commitment to advancing quality assurance in higher education by actively participating in the meetings and discussions of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2). These meetings, which aimed to address critical issues such as harmonization and typologies, served as vital platforms for shaping the future of education in the Philippines. ALCUCOA’s involvement in these discussions underscored its dedication to improving educational standards across local universities and colleges.

Harmonization was a key topic of the workshops held throughout the year. Harmonization refers to the process of standardizing quality assurance methods and approaches used by accrediting agencies, ensuring that institutions across the country adhere to consistent criteria and practices. The workshops focused on aligning accreditation standards to improve transparency and enhance the credibility of academic programs. ALCUCOA, led by its president and executive director, Dr. Raymundo Arcega, took a proactive role in these discussions, emphasizing the association’s commitment to ensuring that local colleges and universities uphold high academic standards.

The first harmonization workshop took place on March 24 at Diliman College in Quezon City. This event gathered representatives from various higher education institutions to discuss challenges and solutions related to the standardization of quality assurance processes. ALCUCOA contributed valuable insights, advocating for the inclusion of local perspectives in the development of these standards. On June 22, the second harmonization workshop at the Quezon City Sports Club continued these discussions, where ALCUCOA’s representatives further explored how these standards could be adapted to meet the unique needs of local institutions.

The third workshop on September 19 at the University of Makati focused on refining the proposed harmonization frameworks, with ALCUCOA once again taking an active role. Dr. Arcega and his team underscored the importance of collaboration between accreditation bodies and higher education institutions to ensure that the harmonization process is both inclusive and effective.

In addition to the harmonization workshops, ALCUCOA also participated in a roundtable discussion on typologies held on November 15 at the University of the Philippines BGC Taguig. Typologies refer to the categorization of higher education institutions based on various characteristics, such as program offerings and institutional capacities. The discussion was critical for understanding how different types of institutions could best align with national education goals while maintaining their unique identities. ALCUCOA’s input was instrumental in ensuring that local colleges and universities were adequately represented in these discussions.

Through these engagements, ALCUCOA continues to advocate for the importance of quality assurance and the need for a unified approach in Philippine higher education. Its active participation in EDCOM2 discussions reaffirms its mission to ensure that local institutions not only meet but exceed national and international standards of excellence.