Kalinga State University is the first SUC to offer Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEAP) which was launched today at KSU Dagupan Campus.

Said activity was spearheaded by Mr. Rodolfo B. Tucay, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and Dr. Pinky Larcelle L. Gas-ib, Coordinator of ETEEAP and Director for Distance Education, Transnational Education and International Linkages.

ETEEAP is a program that allows individuals to attain an academic degree through an assessment process that recognizes, credits, and gives equivalencies to knowledge, skills and prior learning gained from relevant formal, non-formal, informal training and work experiences.

Kalinga State University offers undergraduate programs deputized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to implement said program. The mandate to implement the program is in Executive Order 330 of 1996.

This program aims to conduct program advocacy at the grassroots level, a designed program that is responsive to the needs of the applicant. It also provides personalized service and a conducive environment for learning and assessment, with acquired, and improved facilities, equipment and materials needed for assessments.It also establishes linkages with local, regional, national and international organizations and industries that support non-formal, informal and indigenous learning systems.

According to Dr. Pinky Gas-ib, Kalinga State University ETEEAP mission is committed to promoting access to continuing higher education through alternative learning delivery. However to realize the ETEEAP mission of the University, the program endeavors to create opportunities for individuals to acquire graduate and undergraduate or higher individual competencies while performing their duties and responsibilities, provide an excellent venue for lifelong learning to support our knowledge-based economy and establish a framework for a seamless education for all through open and distance learning applying blended and other appropriate service and learning using delivery modes and develop local communities sustainably.

Moreover, to be qualified for the program, the candidate must be a Filipino citizen, must possess a high school diploma or the PEPT placement equivalent to first year college, must have been employed for the aggregate of five years of industry related to the academic degree program, must be 23 years old and must be proficient in a bench of the discipline applied for. A bachelor's degree holder may apply for equivalency and accreditation prior and work-based learning towards the grant of up to the second degree ONLY provided, however, that such sources of learning are related to the second degree being sought under ETEEAP.

Dr. Demetrio Anduyan Jr., CHED-CAR Regional Director who was present during the launching, expressed his warm congratulations and full support to the university, emphasizing the steadfast leadership of Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang.

Mr. Johnny Maymaya Sr. who represented the Honorable Provincial Governor James S. Edduba encouraged employees who are qualified to enroll to excel as this program symbolizes government concern for professional growth.

Also present were Balbalan Mayor, Almar Malannag, Pasil Mayor Alfredo Malannag Jr., Former Radyo Pilipinas Manager Basilio Baluyan, Mr. Larry Lopez of PIA, the station manager of Radyo Pilipinas, Aquino Perez, City Information Officer, Aurora Amilig and other members of the media who equally expressed their message of support to the Kalinga State University.

In his message of commitment, Dr. Eduardo T. Bagtang expressed his gratefulness to all those who attended said launching especially the LGUs and members of the media as they will help in the dissemination of the program.

Relative to the implementation of the ETEEAP, President Bagtang is looking forward to offering a specific program on “Bodong Specialist” to embibe on indigenous knowledge and practices and further improve the implementation of “PAGTA”.