Iloilo City — La Consolacion College Bacolod presented its institutional best practices in implementing the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) during the Regional Capability Development (CapDev) Conference organized by the Commission on Higher Education for higher education institutions in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region.
Representing LCCB, Dr. Rodjhun B. Navarro shared the institution’s experience in implementing ETEEAP as a mechanism for recognizing prior learning among working professionals who have acquired competencies through years of industry practice.
In his presentation, Navarro explained that while ETEEAP is anchored on the recognition of prior learning, its implementation within higher education institutions relies on rigorous internal quality assurance processes. Evaluators examine authentic documentation submitted by applicants, including professional portfolios, employment records, and training certifications, which are validated through interviews and academic assessments conducted by faculty members and industry partners.
“The evaluation process often resembles a forensic investigation of learning,” Navarro said. “We examine evidence of professional attainment and match these against the program outcomes of the degree program.”
Navarro noted that many ETEEAP applicants already demonstrate strong professional competencies but often require support in developing academic skills such as theoretical analysis, academic writing, and research.
To address this, LCCB designed supplemental learning courses that provide adult learners with foundational academic competencies while allowing them to reflect on their workplace experiences through disciplinary frameworks.
“These short-term courses help our learners make sense of their professional experiences through theory and systematic analysis,” Navarro said. “Rather than disregarding what they already know, we build on it.”
Navarro also shared that the program has produced graduates who have gone on to pursue graduate studies or advance in their professions. Some have become teachers, college instructors, lawyers, or have received promotions within their organizations after completing their degrees through ETEEAP.
He added that for many adult learners, earning a degree through ETEEAP provides long-awaited validation of their capabilities.
“Many of our students are already successful in their careers, yet they carry the stigma of not having a college degree,” Navarro said. “ETEEAP affirms that the knowledge gained through years of experience is real, valuable, and worthy of academic recognition.”
The conference gathered representatives from higher education institutions across Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region to strengthen institutional capacities in implementing ETEEAP following recent developments in national policy.
Through its presentation, LCC Bacolod highlighted the role of higher education institutions in ensuring that recognition of prior learning remains both academically rigorous and responsive to the realities of adult learners.