Since its official certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in March 2025, the University of Baguio (UB) has continued to uphold its commitment to excellence through different initiatives aimed at maintaining the quality of its academic and support services.
In line with this, the Quality Assurance Office (QA) spearheaded a training activity centered around the implementation and continuous adherence to ISO standards. Titled ISO Learning Sessions, the event took place from June 17 to 19, 2025, at the university’s Cardinals Gym and Centennial Hall. Members of the Management Team, newly hired employees, and employees who haven’t attended or have missed previous ISO foundation courses were required to attend the session in order to ensure that every level of UB’s workplace is well aware of and familiar of ISO standards and procedures.
The activity was divided into three major parts, with each session covering a key foundational aspect of ISO standardization. Session 1 was the ISO 21001:2018 Foundation and Awareness Course, Session 2 was the Documentation and Internal Audit Course, and Session 3 focused on Risk and Management and Business Continuity.
Session 1 was led by Ms. Lorali Ann Beltran, an ISO Auditor who has extensive experience in serving as an external auditor for different universities across the Philippines. Her expertise provided a comprehensive overview of the ISO 21001:2018, the international standard for management systems in educational organizations (EOMS). As UB has attained certification in this particular standard, ensuring that its personnel are well informed on the subject matter ensures that management and staff can constantly meet the demands and requirements of maintaining this certification.
Session 2 was an in-depth exploration of the process of ISO documentation and internal auditing. Internal audits and documentation allow UB to closely monitor its processes and identify which areas need improvement before the assessment of the external auditors. This gives the university time to further strengthen its services and facilities, ensuring that it continues to meet ISO standards.
Session 3 catered to the members of the Management Team and the voluntary internal auditors (IAs) of UB. It explored the importance of accurately and appropriately identifying, assessing, and responding to potential threats that the university may encounter. Tackling business continuity also ensures that UB continues to deliver its services despite these threats.
The ISO Learning Sessions culminated in an afternoon kick-off activity that involved a planning session with UB President Dr. Javier Herminio Bautista and the delivery of development updates of UB-ACCESS as delivered by Mr. Justin Marcus Andrada, the university’s Full-stack QAO Developer. Mr. Andrada also discussed how to properly encode the Office Operational Plan (OP) 2025-2026 through UB-ACCESS.
Overall, the activity was informative and integral for ensuring that everyone from the highest members of Top Management to the newest rank-and-file staff are well aware of the core principles and aspects of ISO standardization. This ensures that UB continues to be well-rounded and fully functional, maintaining its position as the first university in the Philippines to attain ISO 21001:2018 certification.
Maintaining international standards and certification from organizations like ISO facilitates UB’s continuous commitment to attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); in particular, it addresses Goal No. 4: Quality Education and Goal No. 17: Partnerships for the Goals. Being able to provide quality academic, professional, and support services to its students helps advance the global need for accessible and sustainable education (Goal No. 4), while collaborating with organizations like ISO and allowing UB to continuously pursue the other SDGs (Goal No. 17).
