The Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) reaffirmed its commitment to international academic excellence and quality assurance as it joined higher education leaders and quality assurance experts across ASEAN in the AUN-QA International Conference 2025, held from November 5 to 6, 2025, at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Representing NEUST were University President Dr. Rhodora Jugo, Quality Assurance Office Director Dr. Analyn Gamit, and Local and International Accreditation Unit Head Dr. Angelo Santos.

The two-day conference gathered over 400 participants from 104 institutions across 11 ASEAN countries, highlighting the crucial role of strategic quality assurance (QA) in building resilient and future-ready universities.

The event started with welcoming remarks from Universiti Malaya and the AUN Executive Director Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup, followed by keynote speeches from Prof. Dato’ Seri Ir. Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Malaya, and Prof. Dr. Olgun Çiçek from the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE).

Both speakers emphasized how internal and external QA systems serve as the “immune system” of universities, ensuring their adaptability, sustainability, and institutional health amidst global challenges.

One of the highlights of the conference was the presentation of the AUN Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) Management Toolkit, a comprehensive resource developed from over two decades of ASEAN QA experience.

This toolkit serves as a guide for universities in strengthening their quality systems and aligning them with regional and international standards.

During the parallel breakout workshops, NEUST leaders took the opportunity to participate in all three interactive sessions:

AUN Qualifications Excellence (AUN-QEx) – attended by Dr. Rhodora Jugo, focusing on developing globally comparable degree programs and enhancing student mobility.
Micro-Credentials – attended by Dr. Analyn Gamit, exploring the integration of short-term, skills-based learning into institutional QA systems.
Digitalizing Quality Assurance – attended by Dr. Angelo Santos, which emphasized leveraging technology and data systems to enhance QA processes and decision-making.

The AUN-QA International Conference 2025 concluded with a synthesis of key takeaways from the breakout facilitators, consolidating best practices and strategies for sustaining institutional resilience and cultivating a lasting culture of quality.

By aligning with AUN-QA’s strategic vision, NEUST continues to fortify its institutional resilience and advance its mission toward globally competitive education.

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