BukSU submits to ISO 9001-2015 certification up to 2023

MALAYBALAY CITY (OP-IPS/30 July 2021) Bukidnon State University has submitted its quality management systems for re-certification with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-9001-2015 standards.

Socotec Auditors conducted an on-going recertification audit on major processes of the university mostly via Zoom Application on July 29 to 30, 2021.

SOCOTEC Certification International awarded BukSU with an ISO 9001-2015 certification in August 2018, valid for three years with annual surveillance audits. BukSU hurdled surveillance audits in 2019 and 2020. On the third year, Socotec auditors hold a recertification, instead of a surveillance audit.

BukSU President Dr. Oscar B. Cabańelez, in his remarks, welcomed auditors and commended everyone’s effort for continuous improvement despite the pandemic. He vowed to continue to fully support the next steps of the university’s quest for quality and excellence.

Lead Auditor Ringo Pabua spearheaded the six-member audit team of technical experts, whose objective was to confirm the continued conformity and effectiveness of the management system as a whole, and the continued relevance and applicability for the scope of ISO 9001:2015 certification.

BukSU’s certification scope includes “provision of educational services covering undergraduate and graduate studies, College of Law, research, extension and development, students and administrative services.  

On July 29, auditors cited positive comments and some observations during the Day 1 wrap up. They covered six areas: context of the organization, graduate studies and College of Law, Human Resource/Training, Student Affairs/Guidance, and Document Control. The Master of Educational Administration and Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration were sampled for the graduate programs checked in this audit.

On July 30, auditors checked on nine processes: undergraduate academic program; curriculum design and development; research, extension and international affairs; admission and registrar; engineering/facilities maintenance/calibration; procurement/property and supply; library; internal audit; and management review.

SOCOTEC, formerly Anglo Japanese American (AJA) Registrars, had assessed and registered against the requirements of ISO 9001:2008 standards the Quality Management Systems of BukSU in August 30, 2017, which expired in August 2018. The university immediately submitted itself to be certified against the ISO 9001-2015 standards.

In last year’s surveillance audit, auditors cited four positive findings including the “highly evident” ISO culture and commitment of the top management and process owners. The auditors also cited the university’s response and initiatives related with the COVID-19, which it extended to the community.

SOCOTEC auditors, last year, also commended the College of Education and College of Law as well as the Research and Extension units as “competent, well-prepared and knowledgeable” about their processes. The three units were among those sampled for audit. Auditors also checked on the top management, the document controllers, procurement procedures and the internal quality audit of the university.

In 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order 605 institutionalizing the structure, mechanisms and standards to implement the government quality management program. State universities and colleges were enjoined to establish ISO-Quality Management Systems and be certified.

The Government Quality Management Committee, which is a member of the AO 25 Secretariat of the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Harmonization of National Government Performance Monitoring, Information and Reporting Systems, saw to it the inclusion of ISO certification as one of the requirements in the release of Performance-based Bonus (PBB) to government agencies. (Walter I. Balane/OP-Information and Publication Services)