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Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT’s BS Philosophy in Applied Ethics undergoes AUN-QA Program Assessment

by Boylie Abenir Sarcina, CASS | Feb 02 2026

The Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT) recently underwent the 466th ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Program Assessment for its pioneering Bachelor of Science in Philosophy in Applied Ethics (BSP AE) program, held from January 27 to 29, 2026. As the first program of its kind in the Philippines, BSP AE redefines the role of philosophy by moving beyond abstract discourse and applying ethical reasoning to governance, education, technology, and community development. 

The assessment was led by a distinguished panel of international experts composed of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jorge Fidel Barahona Caceres of Maejo University in Thailand as Lead Assessor, Dr. Le Thi Giao Chi of the University of Danang in Viet Nam, and AUN-QA Chief Assessor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Eric Wibisono of the University of Surabaya in Indonesia. Together, they examined the program’s curriculum, faculty expertise, student support, facilities, and stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment with international standards.

 

At the core of this undertaking was the Self-Assessment Report (SAR), prepared by the Philosophy and Humanities faculty team composed of Asst. Prof. Brendon Lex A. Hilario, Assoc. Prof. Boylie A. Sarcina, Asst. Prof. Joharel S. Escobia, Asst. Prof. Hernenigildo M. Dico, Jr., and Asst. Prof. Ian S. Embradura. Their efforts were reinforced by the Philosophy academic staff, including Assoc. Prof. Alvert D. Dalona, Asst. Prof. Oliver F. Perater, Asst. Prof. Menelito P. Mansueto, Ms. Jorellaine Gamos-Sun, Ms. Deborah Trexie Q. Torres, Ms. Graciel L. Apolo, and Ms. Mayrian Rose Sencio.

Additional support came from faculty members of the College of Arts and Social Sciences who handle General Education Courses for Philosophy students, such as Assoc. Prof. Onnah Pierre P. Talle from the English Department, and Asst. Prof. Fitzgerald N. Torralba and Asst. Prof. Marph Daryl O. Porras from the Sociology Department. Selected BSP AE students also contributed to the SAR documentation, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the endeavor.

Guiding the entire effort was Prof. Fernando V. Garingo, Chairperson of the Department of Philosophy and Humanities, who emphasized the department’s mission to cultivate ethical leadership and foster socially responsive scholarship. 

 

The technical review was not confined to documents and data. It blossomed into conversations with students, alumni, faculty, employers, stakeholders and administrators revealing how the BSP AE program harmonizes Filipino identity with global academic excellence. The AUN-QA framework, respected across Asia, ensures that programs meet international benchmarks while remaining rooted in local contexts. For Ãå±±½ûµØ-IIT, this participation affirms and strengthens institutional credibility, broadens opportunities for student mobility, and assures stakeholders of graduate competencies that transcend national borders. 

While awaiting the official results, the Department of Philosophy and Humanities celebrated the assessment as a milestone achievement. It demonstrated how philosophy, when applied to the real-world challenges of our time, can shape leaders, empower communities, and redefine education.

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