KUALA LUMPUR – Three faculty members of the BS Biochemistry program of the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics conducted benchmarking activities with two Malaysian universities namely, Universiti Malaya (UM) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) on May 14-19, 2023.

Different aspects of the program were benchmarked for quality improvement. These are the following: curriculum structure, teaching-learning strategies, assessment methods, and laboratory management.

Participants from UPM did several interviews and discussions with the academic staff, students, and service staff of the two universities. They were also able to observe lecture classes in lecture halls as well as actual laboratory sessions in their teaching laboratories. Campus facilities and infrastructure were also observed when they were toured by the respective faculty members.

The benchmarking activities will be used by the BS Biochemistry program in preparation for the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) program assessment.

The Chemistry Department Head of UM is Dr. Nor Kartini Abu Bakar while the Biochemistry Program Head of UKM is Dr. Izyanti Ibrahim. Participants from UPM were Dr. Julius Andrew Nunez, Dr. Voltaire Organo, and Ms. Fatima Joy Cruz.

The benchmarking activity was funded by the Faculty Development Grant and Academic Program Improvement (API) fund of the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 

(Julius Andrew P. Nuñez, PhD)