Saint Louis University (SLU) welcomed the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) assessors led by Chief Assessor Associate Professor Dr. Tan Kay Chuan on 03 March 2026 at the Fr. Francis Gevers Hall, Diego Silang Building, Saint Louis University Main Campus.
The opening session, attended by SLU’s administration and the deans and department heads, set in motion the three-day 506th AUN-QA Programme Assessment, which will review programs from the School of Teacher Education and Liberal Arts (STELA) and a program from the School of Nursing, Allied Health and Biological Sciences (SONAHBS). This year’s AUN-QA programme is the second such iteration in the university’s history, the last one being in February 2025, covering programs from SONAHBS.
The morning prayer was led by SLU Vice President for Mission and Identity Rev. Fr. Emery Mwako Ebumea, CICM. This was then followed by an introductory video of SLU, providing participants with an overview of the educational institution.
In his welcome speech that officially received the AUN-QA representatives and assessors, SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, PhD said, “This occasion is not merely a conventional evaluation, it transcends a significant milestone: the journey towards Missio et Excellentia. By engaging in this international assessment, we affirm our commitment to quality assurance and continuous improvement across our various programs.”
Fr. Sales went on to note, “Saint Louis University further declares its dedication to get par with international standards. This assessment truly serves as a valid opportunity for us to benchmark our educational offerings against the practices of the ASEAN region, ensuring that we will not only meet but exceed the expectations of our students and our stakeholders.”
In response, Dr. Tan Kay Chuan, Chief Assessor representing AUN-QA, said, “We are humbled to be at this assessment. It is unlike other assessment systems around the world… Here, we have assessors, we have people from ASEAN countries. In this case, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam assessors. We come here as part of this ASEAN thinking–asset framework to help each other as we grow. It’s a shared journey, and the growth has included more and more universities– in the Philippines itself, we started with universities in the big cities. And now, we’re moving up to regional areas.”
“The growth from assessments to internal quality assurance has really just started. So, our partnership will continue to grow,” Dr. Chuan emphasized, thanking the University administration for inviting the AUN-QA for its second assessment.
The programs of the University subject of the 506th Programme Assessment are:
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology – led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tan Kay Chuan and also assessed by Asst. Prof. Dr. Sudsuang Yutdhana;
- Bachelor of Science in Philosophy – led by Prof. Dr. Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman, together with assessor Asst. Prof. Dr. Soontareeporn Meepring;
- Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English – led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Jutarat Vibulphol and also assessed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Huyen; and
- Bachelor of Science in Biology – led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Tuan, also assessed by Assoc. Prof. Achmad Wicaksono.
The opening session ended with the exchange of tokens between SLU and AUN-QA. The assessors then proceeded to the respective rooms assigned for each program.
As the assessment officially commenced, SLU’s curriculum and educational standards are set to come under evaluation and collaborative discussion, contributing further to the improvement of the University’s overall competencies. This commitment to continued quality assurance is also anchored on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals). (Article by Kemm Mitchell Olarte, UIO Intern | Photos by Kathleen Therese Catingub, UIO Intern)
