TAU-RET now ISO 9001:2015 certified
The Research, Extension and Training (RET) Services of Tarlac Agricultural University is now International Organization of Standardization (ISO) certified after Ms. Mary Glory Caunin, auditor of the Russian Register, awarded the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) Certification to the TAU-RET QMS Core Group headed by Dr. Tessie E. Navarro, the Vice President for Research, Extension and Training (RET) Services on February 9, 2018 at the TAU Agritourism Hostel Function Hall.
After receiving the ISO certification, Dr. Max P. Guillermo, commended the QMS Core Group for achieving another milestone for the University. He added that earning this prestigious award does not mean an end of a journey; instead this signifies the continuous challenge in sustaining the excellence and integrity in service they provide for their clienteles and stakeholders.
The University’s compliance to ISO certification is in accordance to the Republic Act No. 8292, known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997” wherein it stated that all State Colleges and Universities are mandated to promote the establishment and development of research and extension centers. The Executive Order 605 institutionalizes the structure, mechanism and standards to implement the Governing Quality Management Program. This order amended the Purpose Administrative Order No. 161, series of 2006 and likewise enjoined State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to establish ISO Quality Management System (ISO-QMS) and be certified accordingly. With this provision, the TAU-RET, being one of the core functions of the University, had taken the challenge of improving its system on a continual basis based on international standards.
Ms. Caunin of Russian Register expressed her congratulatory address to the core group and support staff who had extended their full efforts in improving their services and systems .Ms. Caunin also stressed that their partnership with the University in terms of quality of service is a continual process. She reiterated the significance of this achievement as affirmation of the progressive and sustaining development of the University’s quality management systems.
“This serves as a challenge to all of us -- to maintain and sustain further the quality of service we provide. We expect more challenges this year,” said Dr. Beltran, Director of Research and Development. Prior to this, Dr. Beltran expressed his appreciation to all of the hardworking RET staff.
“We commend the VP RET, the Administrative Council, the Administration staff and the faculty staff for the support [they] extended to the RET…” said Dr. Yolanda Guillermo of the Extension and Training Unit.
The core team of TAU-RET has begun their preparation for the said audit since July 3, 2017. After the arduous procedure of audit, training, and management reviews conducted by the auditor of Russian Register, the TAU-RET received the Certificate of Conformity last December 29, 2017. The TAU-RET and support offices have satisfactorily complied with the requirements and recommendations and addressed the findings of the auditor through the Correction Corrective Action Report (CCAR).
The scope of audit for the ISO certification comprises of the management and provision of services for technology generation and verification, training and technical assistance for the implementation of the research and extension of the University.
In her closing remarks, the Vice President for Research, Extension and Training, Dr. Tessie E. Navarro commended the team effort of all staff and members of RET. She also expressed her appreciation to the Russian Register for awarding the certification after the rigorous procedures of audit with regards to the document control, management and the quality of services.
“ISO certification is one of the steps towards the realization of the vision and mission of our University,” Dr. Navarro claimed as she ended her closing remarks.
With the TAU-RET as ISO certified, the Core Group and the support staff are committed to improve their performance and aims to achieve the university-wide ISO QMS 9001:2015 certification. They are also committed to successively improve the Integrated Management System (IMS) and maintain its good standing. Annual surveillance will be conducted for three consecutive years to determine TAU-RET’s compliance to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
(RVC, College of Arts and Sciences, and TAU-RET core team, March 2018)