The faculty and staff of KIT with the APACC Accreditors
Further reinforcing the need to affirm the quality of TVET institutions in the Philippines, the Asia-Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission (APACC) conducted its fifth on-site visit activity in 2017 and the first re-visit in the Kabasalan Institute of Technology (KIT), Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines from May 18-19, 2017.
The institution aims to gain APACC’s nod again by opening its systems and documents to the scrutiny of its expert accreditors. The second APACC visit on September 1-2, 2011 granted a bronze level accreditation until the year 2013.
For the year’s on-site visit the APACC team is composed of the team leader Dr. Theresita Atienza, Senior Vice President and Dean of the Graduate School of Public and Development Management of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) and member Dr. Richard de Leon, Research Services Division Director of the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U). In the team was Mr. Rae Emmanuel Echaveria, CPSC Research Assistant and APACC Support Staff for the visit.
The APACC delegation was welcomed by the TESDA Provincial Director for the Province of Zamboanga Sibugay, Mr. Lorenzo Emmanuel Guillermo, Mr. Bhoy Balboa, representative of Kabasalan Municipal Mayor, Mr. George H. Cainglet, Officer-in-Charge and Vocational School Administrator, Mrs. Greta D. Sabroso. The 52 faculty and 25 staff members also witnessed the opening ceremony on May 18, 2017.
During the program, Mr. Guillermo cited the need for institutions like KIT to consider excellence in TVET as a “way of life” and thus, should be supported by upholding the need for quality TVET implementation and service to the clients. He cited KIT’s role in the economic and social development of the province of Zamboanga Sibugay and encouraged it to further achieve organizational excellence in the era of faster economic growth and global competitiveness. He also expressed his optimism that KIT, through its re-certification on APACC, will avail of its benefits such as greater workforce mobility and mutual recognition of skills and competencies because he considers the APACC seal as a competitive advantage that every institution in the country should strive to achieve.
In response to Mr. Guillermo the APACC team leader, Dr. Atienza, also reaffirmed the need for TVET institutions to gain accreditation particularly in the advent of global and regional cooperation such as the ASEAN Integration. She expressed her optimism that the event will pave the way for the institution’s faculty and staff to strive for better opportunities and greater heights when it comes to the field of TVET institution management, and she expressed hopes that the tedious exercise will bring about tangible and long-term improvements in the institution’s quality journey.
A briefer of KIT’s achievements from 2011 up to present, a short briefer of KIT’s history, and the accreditation schedule were also presented at the opening ceremony.
The APACC Accreditation Team in Action: Dr. Atienza, Dr. De Leon and Mr. Echaveria going around KIT to personally see its offices and facilities
During the two-day exercise, the APACC accreditors evaluated the institution’s self-study report by comparing actual documents and personally assessing the site through a brief tour to the classrooms, offices and training laboratories. They also interviewed some of the faculty members and heads of courses to further gather evidence on the quality of the institution’s facilities and services.
The institution was evaluated based on the following criteria namely: (1) Governance and Management; (2) Teaching and Learning; (3) Faculty and Staff; (4) Research and Development; (5) Extension, Consultancy and Linkages; (6) Resources and (7) Support to Students.
The Kabasalan Institute of Technologyn (KIT) is a TESDA-Accredited Public Vocational Training School, known before 2007 as the Kabasalan National Vocational School (KNVS). It was created through the Republic Act 3468 and commenced operations on June 18, 1961. Currently, the institution offers 22 Certificate and 5 Bachelor of Science Courses with bundled-up courses, as an extension campus of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College. It is currently the largest vocational training school in the province of Zamboanga Sibugay.
APACC accreditors verify documents and interview criterion members
