Ateneo de Manila exists to contribute to societal advancement through teaching and learning, research, outreach and its support operations. It intends to consistently undertake these at the highest standards. In brief, it exists for quality service; for ‘magis’.
The term ‘quality’ is commonly used in a variety of ways, with differing emphases. In the university, it refers to the habitual drive for thought and action that is undertaken at the highest levels, marked by the following identifying features:
Purposeful. There is a keen rootedness in institutional identity and mission and attaining set university vision and goals. Quality is largely determined by ‘fitness for purpose’.
Transformative. There is recognition that the marker for success is positive change among the students, faculty and staff and the larger community.
Accountable. There is a tenacious focus on stakeholder needs and prescribed standards set by national legislative frameworks or accrediting bodies.
Quality in the university results from a system of continuous improvement that relies on both internal and external quality assurance mechanisms. Efforts to attain quality will be guided by the following:
Academic quality framework
Formation quality framework
Research quality framework
Leadership and Management quality framework
Quality assessment will be evidence-based and carried out through tracking of key indicators such as administrative indices; faculty/student/community support indices; learning outcomes; operational efficiency and impact assessment.
Building a culture of quality throughout the university is essential and constitutive. The Office of the President leads and manages the process. It is assisted by the Strategy and Quality Management Office which works with various offices in the development and implementation of the various quality frameworks:
Higher Education cluster and Basic Education cluster for educational quality framework
Mission Integration cluster for Ignatian formation quality framework which includes community engagement; student activities and leadership formation; health, care and well-being; Ignatian Spirituality formation
University Research Council for research quality framework
Finance Cluster, Human Resources Cluster, Digital Information and Technology Services Cluster, Administration Cluster and the President’s Cluster for leadership and management quality framework
