The program underwent evaluation last August 28–30, 2018 as part of the 119^th ASEAN University Network Quality Assurance (AUN-QA) Assessment. There were 11 criteria used for the assessment. These included Expected Learning Outcomes, Programme Specifications, Programme Structure and Content, Teaching and Learning Approach, Student Assessment, Academic Staff Quality, Support Staff Quality, Student Quality and Support, Facilities and Infrastructure, Quality Enhancement and Output. The BS in Biology program passed all 11 criteria.

AUN-QA Assessors also point out specific areas for improvement for each program assessed. This allows universities to improve their services to the students, faculty, staff and other stakeholders.

The accreditation attained signifies that the BS in Biology program is at par with AUN standards. This makes the program the first AUN-QA-accredited program of the College of  Science and the 3rd program in UP Diliman. The accreditation comes on the heels of the University’s efforts to benchmark its performance using international standards, as part of the UP Strategic Plan in 2011-2017.

For the Institute of Biology, the accreditation was the fruit of a two-year effort to document its best practices in teaching and research. Spearheading these efforts were former Director Dr. Ernelea P. Cao and the SAR (Self-Assessment Report) Team of IB. “Despite the laborious process that we had to go through, we wanted to push for AUN-QA accreditation to benchmark our program with international standards and to eventually attain our Institute’s vision. Our vision is to become the leading Institute in Integrative Biology in the ASEAN region. To achieve this, we have to be at par with our ASEAN counterparts,” said Dr. Cao.

As part of the assessment, the AUN Assessors interviewed representatives from the faculty, administrative staff, students, alumni and other stakeholders like employers of its graduates. The Assessors came from universities in Thailand and Malaysia.