BEYOND UST’s multi-year programs, the new head of the Office of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs (OVRAA) is considering microcredentials as a way to connect the University’s higher education offerings with specialized industry training.
Prof. Patricia Manalo-Empleo, who assumed the post on Aug. 1, told the UST Communications Bureau that the programs focused on industry-academe linkages are expected to be enhanced following the launch of a career services office.
She said the initiative builds on the work of her predecessor, Prof. Cheryl Peralta, who served as academic affairs chief for nine years. The efforts would be supported by the newly-launched Career Services and Placement Office and the Guidance and Counseling Center, she added.
Microcredentials are short, skills-focused courses that often last 40 to 120 hours and award digital badges as proof of completion. Students may credit these toward their regular coursework once programs declare the expected learning hours and equivalent credit units.
In 2025, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) formally recognized microcredentials aligned with Levels 5 to 8 of the Philippine Qualifications Framework to ensure they are competency-based and responsive to labor market needs.
Empleo, a certified public accountant, also aims to sustain UST’s participation in the ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA), pursue graduate program integration and address the challenges posed by generative artificial intelligence (AI) in classrooms.
UST’s involvement in AUN-QA has led to certifications for several programs and institutional-level recognition. The University was also named host of the AUN-QA International Conference this year.
Empleo said OVRAA’s quality-assurance initiatives would consider both the Philippine Qualifications Framework and the workload of academic staff and students.
Graduate program integration, meanwhile, is being advanced to align master’s and doctoral offerings with undergraduate degrees. The move could transfer the administration of identified graduate programs to the units that offer their aligned undergraduate degrees, such as the UST College of Science.
Alongside these reforms, Empleo is also planning to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) governance policy with the Office of Information and Communications Technology to balance innovation with responsible use of digital tools in teaching and learning.
Before her appointment as OVRAA head, Empleo served as dean of the UST-Alfredo M. Velayo College of Accountancy from 2013 to 2026. During her tenure, the College adjusted its tertiary curriculum following the rollout of Senior High School, introduced the Bachelor of Science in Accounting Information System program and secured AUN-QA certification for its Accountancy and Management Accounting programs.
Empleo also led the Board of Accountancy’s technical working group for the Certified Public Accountants Licensure Examination Enhancement Project in 2023. F
