STIWNU Secures Autonomous Status Recognition by CHED

By: Miguel La Torre , September 25, 2024

As a testament to its commitment to providing only the best quality education and excellent service, STI West Negros University (STIWNU) was awarded autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on September 16, 2024, in accordance with CMO No. 7, Series of 2024.

Autonomous statuses are given to universities with outstanding performances in board exams, high graduate employability, and curriculum quality, allowing for greater freedom in academic innovation and global partnerships.

This also included the number of active and relevant international, local, and institutional partnerships.

"The autonomous status is a manifestation, a validation that the things that we've been doing here for the past ten years are all correct, are all good, not only for the school, but for the students,” Dr. Ryan Mark Molina, STIWNU Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer said in a phone interview. "This is also a great reward for the university for the 11th anniversary of STI's acquisition of the school” he added.

Following a thorough evaluation of the criteria set by CHED Regional Office VI and the CHED Office of Institutional Quality Assurance and Governance (CHED OIQAG), STIWNU joins the list of 77 autonomous schools in the Philippines, becoming the first STI campus to achieve this status.

A university granted autonomy is given the privilege to enjoy academic benefits such as priority for government funding and scholarships, allowing them to improve their facilities.

Additionally, they are exempt from special paperwork for graduates, making it easier for students to find jobs or further their education. These universities can also collaborate with international institutions, providing students with opportunities to study abroad and learn from diverse cultures.

The autonomy status also grants them flexibility in establishing new programs, enabling them to adapt to evolving market and societal needs.

"It is because of these objectives that the university has been very proactive in subjecting its programs to accreditation and ISO audit,” said Dr. Molina. "It also has poured investment into facilities, research, and community engagement programs,” he added.

Through the years, STIWNU has achieved Level IV accreditation, the highest level granted by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA), for six of its programs, namely Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts in English Language, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Secondary Education, Master of Public Administration, and Master of Arts in Education.

All university programs have received the Quality Management System Certificate (ISO 9001:2015) and the Educational Organization Management System Certificate (ISO 21001:2018).