Accreditation and ISO Compliance: is it

really worth it?By

Teresita G. Hernandez, Ph.D.Head, Library DepartmentCentro Escolar University

February 5, 2009

What is accreditation?

•Process•Quality Management

Mechanism

Accreditation provides and maintains continuous review withthe goal of raising academic standards in addition to improving minimum standards set by the Commission on Higher Education

What is ISO?

International Organization for Standardization

Quality Management System for Continual

Improvement

Quality Management Principles

1.Customer focus2.Leadership3. Involvement of people4.Process approach5.System approach to management6.Continual improvement7.Factual approach to decision making8.Mutually beneficial relationships

ISO 9001: 2000 model

Process of review and assessment

• to verify that the system is working• to find out where it can be improved• to correct or prevent problems

identified

Management Systems and Procedures to Support Quality Standards in Libraries administration

organization and function

staff development

financial support

library equipment and furniture

library holdings

sharing of holding and facilities with other schools

faculty participation in the selection of library collections, and most importantly

evidence of easy and immediate access of our library clientele to our resources (To note: ISO gives great stress on clientele or consumer services satisfaction).

CEU Experience • more efficient, effective operations • increased clientele satisfaction and retention • reduction of too many cumbersome audits of our

programs and operations • enhanced prestige and image for our school in

the business sense • improved employee motivation, awareness and morale • cost effectiveness or “profit,” a gain in the

business sense • and reduction of waste and increased productivity.

ISO certification isnot a walk in the

park

Stiff ISO compliance

The need for commitment and close participation by officials and personnel in the organization

Timely action responses for (a) control such as in case of documents

and records (b) internal audits (c) control of non-performing units (d) corrective action on actual problems, and (e) preventive actions

on potential problems, these responses agreed upon with the

external auditors and implemented by representatives of the organization.

Documented procedures involving recorded data, processes that are

measured (ISO insists on quantitative measurements)

Continual, not sporadic improvement, using management designs for a

more mature organization that will meet clientele expectations.

Is accreditation andISO compliancereally worth it?

Thank you