AUN-QA Workshop for Accomplishing Programme Assessment@Manila, the Philippines

The AUN-QA Workshop for Accomplishing Programme Assessment was held in Manila, the Philippines upon the invitation from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). With the support from CHED, the AUN-QA workshop was organised by the University of Santo Tomas from 7 to 10 March 2016.

The 4-day course aims to introduce the AUN-QA system and enhance quality assurance practices based on the latest version of AUN-QA criteria (3rd version). The content of the workshop focuses on AUN-QA model at programme level and it encompasses:

• Introduction to quality assurance in higher education 
• AUN-QA model and criteria at programme level 
• AUN-QA quality assessment process 
• PDCA Approach to self-assessment 
• Self-assessment report (SAR) writing 
• Change Management 

The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert together with Dr. Arnie from De La Salle University. The workshop was attended by 35 participants from Visayas State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Bicol University, Silliman University, University of Southeastern Philippines, Benguet State University, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, University of Santo Tomas, Central Luzon State University, Cebu Normal University, and Commission on Higher Education.

Visit to University of Santo Tomas, Manila

The University of Santo Tomas, Manila hosted a campus visit for Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti, Deputy Executive Director, AUN; Ms Ing-orn Jeerararuensak, Programme Officer, AUN and Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert (Singapore) on 6 March 2016.  The campus tour started from the Arch of the Centuries and ended at the Hotel 1611. The campus tour was led by Prof. Clarita D.L. Carillo, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, UST.

ASEAN-QA Phase 2 - 4th TraininIQA Workshop and Final Conference

The ASEAN-QA Phase 2 is a follow-up to the ASEAN-QA Phase 1 project. The project partners are DAAD, HRK, ENQA, Universitat Potsdam, AQAN, AUN, and SEAMEO-RIHED. It aims to build capacity in quality assurance in higher educations among the QA professionals in ASEAN universities including East Timor. 

The 4th TrainIQA workshop on "Quality Management and Its Linkages to Higher Education Management" was held from 23 to 25 February 2016 in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. The workshop was attended by 31 participants from universities in Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. At the workshop, Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert facilitated the session on "The MAD Way to Innovation in Higher Education". The workshop ended with a visit to Mahidol University.

The final conference of TrainIQA was held on 26 - 27 February 2016 in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. At the conference, the participants shared their projects with their senior management staff members who were invited to attend. 

3rd EU-SHARE Expert Working Group for Quality Assurance (EWG-QA)

The 3rd EWG-QA meeting was held from 22 - 23 Feburary 2016 in Bangkok, Thailand. The meeting discussed the plans for institutional assessment, preparatory training, manuals, consultancy and national workshops for government agencies, external quality assurance agencies and universities in ASEAN.

Dr. Nantana Gajaseni, Executive Director, AUN and Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert represented AUN in the meeting.

57th AUN-QA Assessment for Programme Level at De La Salle University

The 57th AUN-QA Assessment for programme level at De La Salle University was held from 25 to 27 January 2016 in Manila, the Philippines. The Bachelor of Science in Applied Corporate Management Programme was assessed by Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin (AUN-QA Expert, Singapore) and A/Prof Le Quang Minh from Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, Viet nam. 

3rd AUN-QA Assessors Training Workshop

The 3rd AUN-QA Assessors Training Workshop was jointly organised by AUN Secretariat and De La Salle University from 21 - 27 January 2016 in Manila, the Philippines. The workshop was uniquely designed to give a "hyper-real" experience by incorporating both "simulated assessment environment" in the classroom and "live assessment" observation of the 57th AUN-QA Assessment at De La Salle University.

The workshop aims to equip participants with the essential competencies to carry out an AUN-QA programme assessment. It covers the following learning outcomes:

• Identify key changes in the 3rd version of the AUN-QA Model at Programme Level 
• Apply the PDCA approach in quality assessment;
• Prepare a quality assessment;
• Conduct a desktop assessment for a programme;
• Conduct a site assessment including stakeholders’ interviews, site tour and documentation review; and
• Write assessment feedback, presentation and report

The workshop was attended by 32 participants from universities in Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin, AUN-QA Expert was one of the two facilitators leading the workshop.

9th Happiness DNA Public Workshop

The 9th Happiness DNA public workshop was held on 14 & 15 January 2016. The workshop was facilitated by Chief Happiness Coach, Mr Johnson Ong Chee Bin of Living Better in collaboration with ASK Training Pte Ltd.

The 2-day workshop is based on the principles of positive psychology, and physical, mental and emotional therapies and techniques. It is taught in a unique change methodology where participants first determine the level of their happiness in the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA. How to nurture and sustain the eight dimensions of the happiness DNA is then introduced. The workshop concluded with an action plan to address the gaps in the happiness DNA.

Below are what some participants said about the workshop.

"Applying both internal and external happiness to life"
"Positive reframing helps in changing mindsets"
"Qigong and laughter yoga are useful"