The Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST), formerly known as Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF), has successfully received its recertification anew for the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS). This affirms the university’s long-standing commitment to top-tier higher education, research, and community services. The official certificate received today, November 27, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the university’s journey toward continuous quality improvement, spanning all campuses and sites, including Tiwi, Poblacion, Dumangas, Dingle, and San Enrique.
ISO certification at ISUFST began in 1998 with its maritime programs and has since expanded to encompass the university’s entire scope of programs. The certification process evolved with the university’s growth, from initial implementation at the Main Campus in 2015 to all external campuses by the following year. In 2018, ISUFST adopted the latest version of the ISO standard, ISO 9001:2015, underscoring its dedication to modernizing its quality practices to meet international standards.
“Maintaining ISO certification is not just about meeting standards; it represents a commitment to quality, building trust, and fostering continuous improvement to achieve excellence,” said Dr. Christine Diocos, Director of the Quality Assurance Management Center (QAMC). This renewed certification reaffirms the university’s ongoing efforts to integrate a robust Quality Management System into its higher education, research, development, extension services, and resource generation activities.
Dr. Nordy Siason, Jr., the University President, has consistently emphasized that earning achievements of this level reflects the dedication of ISUFST’s faculty, staff, and administration to meeting the highest quality standards. In several faculty and staff meetings, he expressed that recertification is not just an institutional milestone but a direct benefit to the students and communities the university serves.
ISUFST, established in 1957, is the country’s first and only fisheries university. It offers a diverse array of fisheries, marine biology, education, management, industrial technology, agriculture, information technology, and office administration programs across five campuses, catering to a wide range of interests and career paths.
Recognized as a Center of Development in Fisheries for eight consecutive years, ISUFST has been consistently accredited by AACCUP since 1998. It has earned distinction as a High Performing Institution in Fisheries Technologist Board Examinations.
In 2024, ISUFST received CHED Regional Quality Awards, including recognition for 100% COPC in Undergraduate Programs, Model Implementer of SIKAP, and Excellence in Indigenous Peoples Education and Internationalization Initiatives. With a focus on innovation and accessibility, ISUFST offers 27 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs, serving 8,500 students with 280 faculty members, half of whom hold PhD degrees in their respective fields of specialization.
With ISO 9001:2015 recertification, ISUFST continues prioritizing excellence across its academic and operational domains, reinforcing its role as one of the leaders in sustainable educational practices and quality service in the region. (Herman Lagon/PAMMCO)
