The Board of Trustees of the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) formally approved the Guidelines on AI Use in Accreditation during its meeting held on August 29, 2025. This landmark development marks a significant step in PAASCU’s efforts to responsibly integrate emerging technologies into its quality assurance processes while maintaining the primacy of human judgment.
The newly approved guidelines provide a comprehensive and principled framework that ensures artificial intelligence (AI) serves as a supportive tool—enhancing analysis, promoting reflection, and improving efficiency—without replacing the professional expertise and contextual discernment of human accreditors. Built on eight guiding principles, the document anchors AI use in values of ethical integrity, transparency, contextual relevance, and institutional authenticity.
The guidelines underscore the importance of preserving each institution’s unique identity and mission even in the age of digital transformation. By doing so, PAASCU reaffirms its belief that technology should strengthen, not dilute, the diversity and character of Philippine higher education institutions. It upholds the principles of justice, fairness, respect for data privacy, and accountability as central to ethical AI use.
Practical elements of the document include an application matrix showing how AI may be appropriately used during self-surveys and peer-led visits, a Sample AI Disclosure Statement, and an Accreditation AI Integrity Checklist to guide institutions toward transparency and compliance with the Data Privacy Act of 2012 (RA 10173). The guidelines align with international standards championed by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA), and the World Federation for Medical Education (WFME).
By fusing global best practices with local educational imperatives, PAASCU provides institutions with a forward-thinking yet grounded pathway to innovate responsibly. The guidelines seek to strengthen institutional development, foster reflective and evidence-based practices, and ensure that AI adoption meaningfully contributes to continuous quality improvement.
Through this initiative, PAASCU demonstrates its commitment to advancing the responsible use of technology in higher education accreditation—anchored on integrity, human oversight, and developmental quality assurance.
The PAASCU Guidelines on AI Use in Accreditation can be accessed here: [PAASCU Guidelines on AI use in Accreditation].
