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Umecit – University in Panama

UMECIT United for Excellence

REACCREDITATION is everyone's job

Reaccreditation Bachelor's Degree in General Psychology

Our House of Studies is immersed in a process of reaccreditation of the General Psychology Career, where the different interest groups work on an exhaustive evaluation to demonstrate the academic quality of the program, its study plan, teacher training, research , among other aspects of academic work, with the purpose that external peers evaluate the relevance of the program.

It is important to highlight that the reaccreditation of a university degree in Panama is a rigorous and demanding process, which seeks to ensure the quality of higher education in the country.

Panama 2022

Socialization and Validation of the report with the University Community

Planning

1. Internal Evaluation Committee

Jose Alberto Nieto – Rector
Claudia Rueda – General Vice-Rector
William Leal – Director of Planning
Boris Castillo – Quality Director
Rosa Castañeda – International Legal Advisor
Gressy Zuñiga – Director of Accreditation

2. Sensitization, Training and Socialization

On August 25, 2022, at the Hotel Panama, the act of signing the commitment of all the faculties of Health Sciences, of the different universities of Panama with CONEAUPA for the process of accreditation and reaccreditation of the careers

3. Program of Activities:

Since August 2022, reaccreditation and awareness workshops have been carried out for all the University community

Development

The programmed activities have been carried out by the accreditation team, with all the interest groups. The surveys were applied, using digital media, according to our Cyberhumanist Curricular Educational Model.

Results

Factor 1: Institutional Project

Factor 2: Academic Project

Factor 3: University Community

Factor 4: Infrastructure

Conclusion

The self-evaluation results report was delivered on August 19, 2022, showing 97.8% compliance with the 103 standards. Likewise, the means of verification, annexes 1, 2 and 3 were delivered, reaffirming the transparency of the process carried out.

Results Socialization Team:

Castillo, Boris
Leal, William
Tamayo, Alanis
Zuniga, Gressy

History:

The General Psychology degree was born from a diagnosis of needs that resulted in the absence of professionals in the area of mental health, which made the demand for academic offers imminent to train human talent in some areas of health, such as Psychology. 

And so it was done, after presenting the curricular design of the career, with all the requirements established for this purpose, to the University of Panama. Then, the approval of the Bachelor's degree in General Psychology in the face-to-face and semi-face-to-face modalities was received on June 23, 2004 under Resolution No. 61-04-SGP of the University of Panama and updated on June 27. of 2011 under Resolution No. CTF-72-2011 of the Technical Oversight Commission. 

The program opened in January 2005, at the Panama City Headquarters, as part of the Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences, with a cohort of 21 students, since then there have been a total of 10 cohorts and to date 95 students have graduated. .

As of the publication of Resolution No. 12 of May 20, 2013, which approves the Process of Evaluation and Accreditation of University Careers in Panama and locates the Psychology program within the area of Health Sciences, UMECIT transfers the General Psychology Degree program to the Faculty of Health Sciences (Resolution No. 16/2013). 

Initially, the race opens at the UMECIT headquarters in Panama City, then in 2011, and according to diagnostic studies, it is considered to open at the La Chorrera headquarters. At this location, the first cohort begins with 29 students and to date a total of four (4) cohorts have been opened.

Career Description

The Degree in General Psychology presented by the Faculty of Health Sciences offers the attention space in the Psychology Office to students and the community in general. Additionally, it has a Gesell Camera that allows observation, interview, analysis and investigation of cases in care.

Knowing and intervening in psychological processes, to promote the development of knowledge and skills in students. Within the process of the career subjects related to the development of the human being are addressed such as: projective techniques, personality, psychological assessment, among others that provide the student the ability to know, interpret and analyze the theories of behavior and its real application in the development of the profession.

                      

What is Accreditation?

It is the public and temporary recognition of institutions, careers, which have demonstrated the achievement of the quality standards established by CONEAUPA in the respective Accreditation Model, according to Law 52, of June 26, 2015. Chap. I.Art.4. 10 and regulated by Executive Decree No. 539 of August 30, 2018, by which the National System of Evaluation and Accreditation for the improvement of the quality of university higher education in Panama is created. The accreditation model corresponds to a series of standard criteria that allow organizations to measure the quality of their services or products, and their performance against nationally or internationally recognized standards.

What is Reaccreditation?

It consists of the renewal of the institutional accreditation, careers or programs issued by the National Council for University Evaluation and Accreditation of Panama -CONEAUPA- at the end of their validity. It is the guarantee of the verification that they carry out, after a while , the academic peers on the quality of the programs of an institution, its organization, operation and the fulfillment of its social work. Renewal of the accreditation at the end of the validity of the institutional accreditation of the career or programs prior to compliance with the improvement plan proposed. (Law 52, of June 26, 2015. Cap. I.Art.4. 10).

How does the Reaccreditation process work?

Phase 1:

Self appraisal
Self-evaluation is the process by which each university assumes the responsibility of evaluating the institution as a whole to prepare a final report that includes achievements and critical aspects of its operation. This is done in order to prepare improvement plans, taking as a reference the mission and vision statement, the institutional objectives, as well as the criteria and quality indicators approved by CONEAUPA. It is necessary that the self-assessment be a participatory process and proposed as a way to achieve the professional development of the members of the institution and the autonomy that it reaches, by achieving the levels of quality desired by its members.

*Source CONEAUPA

The external evaluation is a verification process carried out by a group of independent specialists called external peers, where they analyze the institutional self-assessment report, with a view to highlighting specific aspects subject to observation during the visit. Compliance with the indicators and standards established in CONEAUPA's self-assessment model, for the granting of the corresponding accreditation. The peers must provide an external, substantiated and independent opinion about the quality of education.

*Source CONEAUPA

Phase 2:

External Evaluation

Phase 3:

Reaccreditation
Reaccreditation is a public recognition that is directly related to compliance with the requirements of the Panama Institutional University Evaluation and Accreditation Model. The importance of the accreditation model lies in the fact that it is a process to ensure the high level of quality in higher education and works as a public recognition towards the institutions that carry out good training practices. However, it is important to keep in mind that accreditation is not only an opportunity to obtain recognition by the State of the quality of an institution or a program, it is also an opportunity to compare the training that is provided from the perspective of academic peers, who validate the quality standards of an institution.
Reaccreditation is a recognition to the entire community

Benefits of Reaccreditation

The fundamental benefits are: “to ensure the level of quality of education in a country, guarantee access to vulnerable populations, equity and development of the continent.

1. Ensure an external evaluation in accordance with the expectations of society.

2. Undertake voluntary actions to improve quality.

3. An update of the programs that adapt to the changes that occur.

4. A reduced need for public control.

5. Ensure that the programs are satisfactory and meet the needs of the students.

6. Make it possible to transfer credits, and be accepted in more advanced programs.

7. It is a normal prerequisite to enter a profession and become a member of a professional association, which does not depend on the incorporation exams of each graduate, but on processes that are a letter of introduction to the career or program.

8. Stimulate the realization of a self-assessment to improve the system.

9. The improvement of the institution following the recommendations of the accrediting agencies or bodies.

10. Being able to apply improvement criteria that are external.

11. A better reputation.

12. Access to financial aid for their students.

13. They define the preparation requirements to enter a profession.

14. They integrate the profession, getting professionals, professors, and students to collaborate”.

*Ibero-American Network for Quality Assurance in Higher Education -RIACES-

News

Accreditation Process 2012

"Committed to the creation of a better society, the development and growth of the country and an egalitarian education, the Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology - UMECIT - works every day in the construction of a solid foundation that results in providing society with integral, capable and multidisciplinary professionals who have the necessary skills and knowledge to ensure equity, welfare and recognition as leaders in nation building."

The Metropolitan University of Education, Science and Technology - UMECIT:

Delivery of your self-assessment report

on March 23, 2012.

Receive visits from external peers

from June 26 to July 1, 2012.

Received the Institutional Accreditation certificate

on October 31, 2012.