PAASCU Joins INQAAHE Conference

PAASCU Joins INQAAHE Conference

By Maria Luz C. Vilches, PhD Member of the PAASCU Board

At the cusp of springtime weather, the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE) held its 18th Biennial conference in Tokyo from 13 to 16 May 2025, organized by the Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA).

Over 300 participants from different parts of the world came together to participate in discussions of relevant topics that centered on the theme: “The Big Bang Theory: The Quality Assurance Paradigm Shift.” Among those participants were Ric Palo and I. We began our day with those crisp morning walks from our hotels to the beautiful and modern Akasaka Intercity Conference Center. Ric, stayed on the lucky side of this friendly neighborhood where he would have the view of the nearby garden of multi-colored roses to regale his walk. The sakura was gone but the roses elegantly captured softness and grace in a vicinity of tall and functional edifices.

PAASCU is one of the first members of INQAAHE, so we were not strangers to the crowd – although at the registration desk on the first day, they had difficulty finding Ric’s ID. There was frantic frenzy behind the desks but we remained calm and collected knowing that all would just be well. And so indeed, all was well. We met officials of INQAAHE: the President, Vicki Stott, and the CEO, Fabrice Henard. Fabrice is also from the French quality assurance agency, the Haut Conseil à l’Évaluation de la Recherche et de l’Enseignement Supérieur (HCERES) (or the High Council for the Evaluation of Research and HigherEducation). Incidentally, a delegation from HCERES is going to visit PAASCU in late May this year for networking.

We also met Amelie Bensimon from the same agency. So we were a bit Frenchified in Tokyo! We likewise noted those who could possibly be good consultants from other accrediting agencies. There was one who stood out – who asked questions that brought down to practical realities the idealism of some presenters. She didn’t have a card but I think she came from the British Accreditation Council. This kind of networking is one of the gains of a conference participation like this.

Conference Topics and Challenges Three important topics recurred in the sessions: artificial intelligence, the UN sustainable development goals, and micro-credentialing/certification. The bottom line was always, how activities around these topics could be quality assured – which is the main aim of accreditation.

The big developments in AI were brought up including AI operated eyeglasses that could double up as GPS (and so you wouldn’t get lost anymore, especially those like me who cannot read maps decently!!). These glasses can also become educational tools for children who can watch children’s movies through this facility. While everyone was excited about such developments, people could not help express anxiety as well (how scary!!) as technology seems to be more in control of humans than the other way around. The conclusion was always this:

AI as a tool but a lot of decision-making processes still have to be done by human beings. Question for us: Is PAASCU ready to venture into including AI in its accreditation process? What would it take to do that?

The other popular topic was the SDGs. While we often zero in on climate change and all that have to do with environmental sustainability, the topic extends beyond this. There is economic sustainability, sustainability in terms of justice and governance, sustainability in terms of health, etc. The question to ask: what mechanisms in the universities are in place that could help measure where things are in terms of any sustainability-related activities? For example, brought to our context, does PAASCU’s accreditation process look into this area as well? To what extent? Project funding was also an item for discussion in sustainability projects. A lot of the participants came from institutions that were subsidized by their governments. That left out the private sector in which a lot of academic institutions in the Philippines can be classified. The last topic was on the offering of micro credentials. This area is explored now in many parts of the world because of the need

of business and the industry to have their people upskilled. That should be fine when tailor made for their workforce. And also fine if academic institutions turn into micro credentials the current courses they have toward a degree program. In the discussions what was brought up as problematic was when non-academic institutions offer micro-credentials open to anyone. How can this be quality assured? The other question raised was this: In case a person who has been stacking up micro-credentials reach a level of a PhD equivalence as indicated in the qualification framework of the county where the student is located, will academic institutions recognize it as a PhD degree? I will not be surprised if academics start raising their eyebrows!!

These areas of opportunities provide real solutions to concerns but they also raise difficult questions whose answers require not a black and white stance but a nuanced discussion of implications and contexts and standards.  But it’s good to ask questions even if the answers are not yet fully forthcoming. They are a way of moving toward a future of possibilities.

Light Moments

The conference gave us lots to think about but there were also moments of unwinding and informal conversations. The conference dinner in Hotel Okura was a grace-filled occasion to savor Koto music played by three dainty women. They played soothing Japanese music and some of favorite western opera music. There was also another musical performance by Waseda University students. They used the Biwa -a plucked string instrument with a pear-shaped body and four or five strings. Quite robust and delivered with a thug! The contrast between the two performances showed an interesting diversity in Japanese culture. The dinner food was excellent – Japanese, Chinese, western style too. And the evening was capped with rousing dance music. Ric was enticed to cut a figure on the dance floor and succeeded well. PAASCU could not be left behind!

Into the Future

PAASCU has work to do to sift through what we learned from that conference. In the meantime, we savor the gift of being a member of INQAAHE. There is a lot to learn from the other members too. The next stop for the INQAAHE conference is either India or South Africa! Competing in exotic display of cultural traditions.

 24 May 2025