Mindanao State University — General Santos’ Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program under the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH) has been recommended for certification following the evaluation conducted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD) Evaluation Team on August 17, 2026, at the CSSH Mini Theater.
The evaluation provided MSU — GenSan an opportunity to present the MPA program’s accomplishments, practices, and continuing efforts to uphold quality instruction, strengthen student services, and ensure compliance with CHED standards.
In his welcome remarks, Prof. Mario J. Aguja, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities (CSSH), emphasized the significance of the MPA program to MSU — GenSan’s public service mission, particularly in developing competent public administrators who can contribute meaningfully to institutions and communities across General Santos City, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Mindanao.
“We view this COPC visit not simply as a compliance exercise, but as an important opportunity for reflection, validation, and continuous improvement,” he said.
This was followed by a message of support from University Chancellor Atty. Shidik T. Abantas, MDM, LLM, who underscored the University’s commitment to continuously strengthening its academic programs and ensuring their responsiveness to the needs of the public sector and the communities it serves.
“We view today’s evaluation not as an end, but as a part of our ongoing commitment to strengthen our offerings and ensure that they remain responsive to the public sector and the communities we serve,” Chancellor Abantas said.
The evaluation proceeded with the introduction of MSU — GenSan key officials by Prof. Monsour A. Pelmin, Ph.D., Director of the Quality Assurance, Monitoring and Standards Office (QUAMSO), followed by the statement of purpose, introduction of the CHED National Evaluation Team, and presentation of the monitoring and evaluation plan.
The evaluation team also conducted a virtual tour of the campus and viewed the University’s promotional video before the presentation of the MPA Program led by Assoc. Prof. Joy C. Calva, DPA, Coordinator of the Master of Public Administration Program.
Following the evaluation, the MPA Program was found compliant with the assessed CHED standards and recommended for certification, with no non-conformities (NCs) noted during the evaluation.
The development marks another step in MSU — GenSan’s continuing pursuit of quality assurance and excellence in graduate education, strengthening its commitment to producing public administrators equipped with the knowledge and leadership capacities needed to serve the public effectively.
