Foreign academics to assess University of Panama

An international team of academics will be arriving in Panama on Tuesday October 21, to review the University of Panama’s self assessment.   

“We are ready to welcome the assessors" said the Academic Vice Chancellor of the University (UP), Justo Medrano.

The external peers will be responsible for analyzing the self-assessment document delivered March 21 to the Ministry of Education for accreditation with the National Assessment and Accreditation of Panama (CONEAUPA).
During the scheduled visit, the academics will check if the self-assessment carried out by the UP effectively meets the various indicators that have to do with teaching, research, extension and outreach and administrative management of the institution.
Medrano said the university "has been preparing for over a year for this accreditation process" with a UP team working on a measurement of the current status in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, update plans, curriculum and academic offerings.
The visit will last for at least three weeks during which scholars will be tour in the 18 faculties of the University and interview officials, teachers, administrators, staff and students.
Once this process is completed, the final report will be submitted to the CONEAUPA, the body responsible for the accreditation of universities and whose authorities, in turn, decide, in a time not too long, whether or not credited to the UP Consistent with the results obtained by external academic peers.
This accreditation process, is two months behind schedule due to clashes between riot police and university students and the beating received by a cameraman of the institution, which led to the university campus being closed for a period 10 days. Classes resumed on June 6.