MMSU launched last September 2 the Quality Management System (QMS) Manual and Quality Policy as an initial step toward the attainment of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification.

Witnessed by the MMSU administrators, employees and students at the University Covered Court, the QMS serves as the university's compass for a better, more efficient and effective system of delivering its services to internal and external stakeholders.

The QMS Manual captures the needs, expectations, and issues of MMSU's stakeholders and defines the systematic flow of transactions. It also tries to ensure customer satisfaction, nurture partnerships, and conform to international standards.

Meanwhile, the Quality Policy states that the university is "committed to optimize its mandated services in instruction, research, and extension by implementing our QMS which proactively empowers our stakeholders as we synergistically respond to our evolving needs and aspirations toward sustainable development and inclusive growth."

"We will continue to review and improve our QMS in accordance with legal, ethical and other requirements," it added.

MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis thanked the university's QMS Team and trainers from the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) "for patiently, skilfully and heartily crafting the content of the manual and quality policy in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 standards."

"Embedded in this QMS is our commitment to let each stakeholder feel satisfied with our services," Dr. Agrupis said, noting that the QMS is one of the mandates of the government through Executive Order (EO) 605, s. 2017.

Implemented by the Government Quality Management Committee (GQMC) spearheaded by the DAP, the EO seeks to promote and enhance public sector performance through the adoption of international standards.

"Our quest for ISO certification is part of our big dream to become the premier Philippine University by 2028," Dr. Agrupis beamed, emphasizing that MMSU is one of the only two state universities in the Philippines that received a grant for QMS training by the DAP.

The faculty, staff and students represented by the presidents of Faculty Association, Inc., Association of Non-Teaching and Administrative Personnel, and University Student Council, expressed their commitment to implement the QMS. After the launching, the QMS on quality workplace and document management were also cascaded to the university community.

MMSU and DAP signed a memorandum of agreement last March 14 to formalize the training grant and to signify the latter's commitment to help the university establish a QMS that is certifiable under the ISO 9001:2015 standards. After the signing, five core teams and QMS Secretariat was formed, headed by Dr. Aris Reynold Cajigal, who is also the director of the Extension Directorate, the first unit of the university that received ISO certification.

This was followed by the introduction of the ISO and QMS principles to the QMS Team last April 10-12. In this activity, strengths and gaps of the university were determined, and pledge of commitment were signed by the members of the core teams and administrative council.

The core teams and secretariat were also trained on QMS requirements and risk-based planning on May 27-31; 5S Good Housekeeping and QMS documentation on July 1-5; enhancement of operational controls and procedure, and soft launching of QMS Manual on July 22-25; and DAP trainers' actual visit in line with the university's QMS implementation in the management, core and support processes on August 14-16.