With the vision “To become an ASEAN Premier State University in 2020, the Pangasinan State University (PSU) over the years had upheld the ASEAN ethos to expand collaborative efforts with ASEAN countries. To do this, it had engaged with several initiatives including student and faculty exchange program, research collaboration and sharing of knowledge with partner universities which to date, reached a total of sixty (60) universities in the ASEAN region. Most importantly, it buttressed its organizational system by putting in place Quality Assurance mechanisms to make sure PSU is operating using National and International Standards.
Looking back, PSU struggled to achieve quality. It barely thrived and made a modest difference in terms of organizational performance along its four- fold functions. Hence, to advance development, Dr. Dexter R. Buted, changed the name of the game. He instituted a system that ensured quality in all its services and operations. A Quality Policy was also formulated and constantly communicated to internalize what working for quality means.
In 2016, PSU carved a history as the first State University in the Philippines to earn ISO 9001:2015 certification by an internationally-recognized certifying body. With this, the University’s processes and support services were mounted to concretize the University’s mandate. In not less than a year, PSU moved further to include all its nine (9) campuses ISO certified. This idea was strongly supported by the desire to establish uniformity in the implementation of the PSU Quality Management System. This significantly improved the kind of service offered to all customers and stakeholders most especially the students and partner institutions.
Moreover, the University regards its workforce as the most fundamental drivers to achieve success. In order to ascertain that their needs, benefits and general welfare are provided, the Investors in People (IiP), global standard framework for people management was adopted. Through this, the employees developed a culture where each one acts and works in accordance with the University’s Core Values and a contributor in the fulfillment of the University Vision. In February of this year, PSU was given the IiP Silver Level Award to evidence the strong integration of the framework within the system. PSU is the First and only State University in the Philippines to receive such award.
Unappalled to establish competitive edge among comparable universities, PSU had submitted its program offerings to accreditation. Currently, the University is Top 7 and one among the Top 10 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in terms of programs accreditation performance in 2016 and 2017, respectively. In addition, three (3) of PSU’s programs are labeled “Centers of Excellence” awarded by the Commission on Higher Education by virtue of excellent performance in the mandated areas of instruction, research, extension and production. It has also consistently produced Topnotchers in the field of Education, Engineering and Fisheries.
With a clear vision in mind, PSU will only have one direction to go and that is UP– reaching for greater heights with a strong heart and ardent determination to conquer the realms of the ASEAN while ensuring quality as its top most priority.