Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐇𝐮𝐛 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance, Dr. Teresita T. Rungduin convened with the Directors for Research, Extension, Quality Assurance and Development (DREQAD) from Philippine Normal University (PNU) campuses on April 20, 2026, via Zoom to discuss strategies for strengthening the research hubness of the university’s regional campuses. Among those present were Prof. Aaron Jed Tumbali (PNU South Luzon), Dr. Aragon Dechimo, Jr. (PNU Visayas), and Dr. Elvira Chua (PNU Mindanao).

Central to the discussion was the conduct of an impact study and the development of research centers within the hubs. These hubs are tasked with leading specialized, agenda-driven research that produces meaningful outputs, fosters collaboration, and contributes to policy and community development. In line with the university’s Strategic Development Plan, establishing research centers is seen as a key step toward institutionalizing expertise, sustaining high-impact research, and enhancing overall research and innovation capacity.

The proposed impact study will provide an evidence base for evaluating the effectiveness of existing hubs, identifying operational gaps, and ensuring alignment with PNU’s broader research agenda. Additionally, the establishment of research centers across regional hubs is expected to create sustainable infrastructure for scholarly excellence, strengthen institutional positioning, and support compliance with National University for Teacher Education (NUTE) approval requirements while enabling access to collaborative funding opportunities.

We are delighted to share that Prisma Gender and Education Journal has been successfully included in the EBSCOhost databases.

EBSCO Information Services is a well-respected provider of online full-text databases, offering access to peer-reviewed articles from renowned publishers worldwide. This milestone strengthens the visibility and credibility of our journal within the global academic community.

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our reviewers, referees, and authors who have contributed to the success of the journal. This achievement would not have been possible without your dedication and valuable contributions.

We are truly grateful for your continued support and look forward to your ongoing partnership in maintaining the journal’s high standards of quality and scholarship.

𝐎𝐕𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐔𝐏 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

The Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance (OVPREQA) actively participated in the 39th Annual National Conference and General Assembly 2026 of the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP), held from March 24 to 26, 2026, at the Century Park Hotel.

Representing the University were Dr. Teresita T. Rungduin, Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance; Prof. Ruel Avilla, Director of the Quality Assurance Management Office (QAMO); along with QAMO staff members Ms. Ma. Rouella Lagunzad and Mr. Jirich Baldemoro.

This year’s conference carries the theme, “Advancing QA: Research, Science and Technology for Transformative Education and Sustainable Development,” highlighting the critical role of quality assurance in driving innovation and ensuring excellence in education. The event brings together experts, practitioners, and institutional leaders from across the country to exchange insights, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration in advancing quality assurance frameworks.

Through their participation, the OVPREQA delegation reaffirms its commitment to enhancing institutional quality standards, fostering research-driven initiatives, and contributing to sustainable and transformative education.

Notably, during the conference, PNU University President Dr. Bert J. Tuga was recognized as a recipient of the Manuel T. Corpus Quality Champion Award, the highest distinction conferred by AACCUP for performance excellence. The award honors SUC Presidents who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in implementing quality management systems.

Under Dr. Tuga’s leadership, PNU has achieved significant milestones through strengthened program offerings and enhanced quality assurance initiatives. These efforts have earned the University prestigious recognitions, including the Philippine Quality Award for Proficiency in Quality Management and the AACCUP Recognition for Highest Number of Programs Accredited, further affirming its commitment to excellence and transformative education.

𝐎𝐕𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐀 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐐𝟏 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐈𝐒𝐎 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭

The Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance (OVPREQA), under the leadership of Dr. Teresita T. Rungduin, had its ISO Internal Quality Audit for the first quarter of 2026 earlier today, March 24, 2026.

The audit was conducted by Dr. Alfons Jayson Pelgone, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, who served as the Internal Auditor. His visit formed part of the university’s continuing efforts to uphold quality standards and ensure compliance with established systems and procedures.

The activity aimed to evaluate the current status of the office’s Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring that its processes remain aligned with both internal policies and external requirements. In particular, the audit assessed conformity with the standards under the ISO 9001:2015 framework.

Moreover, the audit served as a preparatory step in determining the university’s readiness for the upcoming ISO 9001:2015 Second Surveillance Visit, which is scheduled to take place in the last quarter of the year. The results of this internal review are expected to guide further improvements and reinforce the institution’s commitment to quality, efficiency, and continuous development.

Through initiatives such as this, OVPREQA continues to strengthen its role in promoting excellence in research, extension, and quality assurance across the university.

𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐭 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

The Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation Subcommittee continued deliberations on proposals seeking to amend Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 last Thursday, February 12, 2026. The proposed amendments aim to align the decades-old law with modern developments and innovations in the teaching profession, ensuring that teacher preparation and professional standards remain responsive to current educational demands.

The subcommittee gathered inputs from key education agencies, including the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, and the Professional Regulation Commission, as well as representatives from teacher education institutions and other stakeholders. Discussions centered on strengthening regulatory mechanisms, enhancing teacher preparation, and ensuring that reforms contribute to improve learner outcomes nationwide.

Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated his position that the proposed amendments must lead to measurable improvements in the quality of Teacher Education Institutions. He emphasized that refining the law presents an opportunity to address existing gaps in the teaching profession.

Representing the Philippine Normal University, Dr. Brando Palomar, Director of the Research Institute for Teacher Quality, participated in the discussion and shared insights on strengthening teacher quality and aligning professional standards with evolving educational needs. His participation emphasizes the University’s continuing role in shaping national policies that advance excellence in teacher education and professional development.

(Photos courtesy of Voltaire F. Domingo of the Senate Social Media Unit)

𝐏𝐍𝐔 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐐𝐀𝐌𝐎 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐔𝐍-𝐐𝐀 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝟏 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲

The Philippine Normal University continues to strengthen its quality assurance initiatives as University President Bert J. Tuga, PhD and Quality Assurance Management Office Director Ruel A. Avilla successfully completed the AUN-QA Training Course for Accomplishing Programme Assessment (Tier 1, Version 4.0) held on February 10–13, 2026 at the Richmonde Hotel in Iloilo City.

The training is a foundational capacity-building program under the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), which supports higher education institutions across the region in advancing quality assurance systems. The course provides a comprehensive understanding of the AUN-QA programme-level assessment framework aligned with Version 4.0 criteria. It highlights key quality assurance principles such as outcomes-based education (OBE), stakeholder engagement, constructive alignment of expected learning outcomes with curriculum design and assessment, and the application of the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle for continuous improvement. Through these concepts, institutions are guided in ensuring that programme delivery, academic resources, and student support systems meet internationally benchmarked quality standards.

Designed to be highly practical and workshop-oriented, the four-day course engaged participants in gap analysis, evidence mapping, and the preparation of a Self-Assessment Report (SAR) aligned with AUN-QA requirements. Sessions combined lectures, case analyses, and collaborative exercises simulating actual programme assessment processes. By completing the Tier 1 training, Dr. Tuga and Prof. Avilla further reinforce PNU’s commitment to institutional excellence and continuous improvement, while laying the groundwork for future participation in formal AUN-QA programme assessments and advanced assessor training (Tier 2).

(Photos courtesy of Dr. Bert J. Tuga)

𝐎𝐕𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐀’𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

The Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance (OVPREQA) convened its First Extended Management Committee Meeting on January 12, 2026. The meeting was attended by the directors and key officials under the OVPREQA domain, as well as the Directors of the Office for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance and Development (ODREQAD) from the PNU campuses in North Luzon, South Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Their participation ensured broad representation and alignment across the University’s research, extension, and quality assurance units.

The meeting served as a platform for strategic discussion and coordination on priority initiatives for the year. Key agenda items included the presentation of the domain’s proposed 2026 Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs), discussion on the Universityhood Celebration activities of the Philippine Normal University, and the discussion of other significant operational and policy-related matters. The discussions aimed to strengthen coherence in program implementation, promote collaboration among campuses, and ensure that planned initiatives are aligned with the University’s strategic goals and mandates.

𝐎𝐕𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐀 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫-𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

The Office of the Vice President for Research, Extension, and Quality Assurance (OVPREQA) successfully held its 2025 Year-End Review and 2026 Planning Workshop on December 10–11, 2025, at the Hotel Benilde Maison De La Salle in Manila.

Under the leadership of Vice President Dr. Teresita T. Rungduin, the domain’s personnel gathered for two days of reflection and strategic planning. The workshop began with a review of the accomplishments of 2025, including a detailed OPCR Review across all Offices under the domain, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.

The second day focused entirely on strategic foresight, with sessions dedicated to drafting the 2026 Operating Plan and Budget and establishing targets for the upcoming year. The core objective was to finalize a roadmap that will further enhance the University’s excellence in research output, community engagement through extension, and internal quality assurance systems.

The activity successfully synthesized the domain's efforts, aligning resources and personnel to ensure a strong and impactful 2026. As the University's pillar for the advancement of the country, the OVPREQA remains committed to promoting research, educational quality, extension, and innovation.

Happy birthday, VP Tessa!

We wish you a day filled with happiness and love. May the year ahead bring you more blessings! 🥳

📢𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐏𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓

𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭-𝐓𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬’ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬
𝘔𝘦𝘫𝘪𝘢, 𝘐𝘷𝘺 𝘗., 𝘛𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘰, 𝘈𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯 𝘋., 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘦, 𝘙𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘗., 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯, 𝘈𝘳𝘭𝘺𝘯𝘦 𝘊., 𝘋𝘦 𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘢, 𝘑𝘢𝘺𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘓., 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘰, 𝘕𝘪𝘭𝘰 𝘑., 𝘋𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘯𝘰, 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘗., 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘺-𝘝𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘦𝘷𝘢, 𝘓𝘦𝘪𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘴, 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘢, 𝘎𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘝., 𝘓𝘪𝘮, 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦 𝘓., 𝘛𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘢𝘨, 𝘐𝘷𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴, 𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘺𝘢, 𝘑𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘋.

Mismatches between teacher specialization and the subjects they teach continue to be an ongoing challenge in the Philippine education system. It affects both pedagogical effectiveness and student learning outcomes. This study sought to investigate the degree of subject-taught mismatch, its influence on student performance, and the underlying factors that contribute to this misalignment. It employed a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative analysis of the extent of teachers’ specialization and subject-taught mismatch and its relationship with student examination scores, along with qualitative data from teacher interviews and surveys. The methodology encompasses an examination of existing datasets, the collection of primary data through surveys and interviews, and the statistical analysis of student performance metrics. Results showed a moderate positive relationship between teacher specialization alignment and students’ examination scores, suggesting that learners taught by specialized teachers generally exhibit higher levels of achievement. Findings also revealed that teachers frequently encounter multiple misalignments, rather than a single mismatch, between their specialization and assigned subjects. Furthermore, qualitative feedback indicated that teachers teaching outside their field of specialization experienced difficulties, including decreased confidence, heightened preparation time, and challenges in addressing student misconceptions. The study highlights significant policy implications, such as the necessity for systematic teacher recruitment and assignment procedures that promote specialized alignment, improved professional development programs for out-of-field teachers, and reinforced collaboration among educational institutions. To alleviate the adverse consequences of subject mismatch, educational organizations must establish specialized training programs, enhance workforce planning, and cultivate supportive learning environments for educators and learners. This is crucial for enhancing teaching quality, improving student outcomes, and developing a more effective approach to aligning teacher specialization with subject assignments within the school realities in the Philippines.

Access the full paper for free here:
https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2025.33