Vision 

The Equivalency and Technical-Vocational Assessment Office (ETVAO) is envisioned as an excellent and innovative facilitating unit that fosters a community of lifelong learners who pursue personal and career advancement through accessible and flexible learning, training and certification.

Mission

ETVAO, in communion with the schools and other units of the University, dedicates itself to:

1. Relentlessly provide accessible pathways to continuing education and facilitate the issuance of national certifications or formal degrees;
2. Steadfastly advocate alternative system of education, formal recognition of prior experiential learning, and flexible schemes for acquiring knowledge, competencies, skills, attitude and values;
3. Joyfully coordinate with government and non-government agencies in the conduct of funded training and certification; and
4. Responsibly engage in the skills development of resilient partner communities.

In the pursuit of these mission statements, ETVAO commits to render Excellent Quality Service Delivery with utmost integrity and professionalism.

Brief History

In compliance with the stipulated provisions of Republic Act 7722 otherwise known as the “Higher Education Act of 1994”, and in keeping with the intent of CMO 35, s. 2000 specifying the Updated Policies and Guidelines on Alternative Systems of Education”, Saint Mary’s University instituted the Center for Alternative and Continuing Education (CACE) in  June 2003, which was later renamed the Equivalency and Technical Vocational Assessment Office (ETVAO) in April 2014.   It is the adjunct system of the institution that is designed to support continuing or lifelong learning amidst innovations, transformation, and changes in the various levels of the academe. It addressed the challenge of certifying skills and recognizing prior experiential learning to access formal higher education

ETVAO hinges upon the concept of continuing education as a subsidiary path for “Education for all” using alternative delivery systems to establish new modes that fit the career paths and educational opportunities of students with diverse abilities, needs, work status and socioeconomic and cultural background.

ETVAO works out operational mechanisms and alternative programs to admit high school graduates and help them benefit optimally from them. Hence, the ETVAO crafted internal “safety” for the course programs with deputization: certificate and baccalaureate degree, delivery and evaluation schemes, policies, standards, provisions and activities-all of which are indeed the embodiment of the vision- mission of the university and the articulation of the prescribed standards and competencies.

The Center for Alternative and Continuing Education was under the headship of Dr. Nena P. Valdez when it was established in 2003, later succeeded by Dr. Lina S. Calucag in 2008.  Dr. Micah Ryan B. Ramel assumed the position of CACE Head on July 15, 2010 until November 2013.   Thereafter, the office was handed over to Mr. Joman J. Baliton in April 2014.  On April 1, 2016, Mr. Seigfried Rommell D. Cancino assumed the position as the OIC-ETVAO Coordinator.  

As the Vice President supervising the CACE/ETVAO, Dr. Moises Alexander T. Asuncion acted as Officer-in-Charge from November 11, 2013, to March 31, 2014, and then again in January 2018, until the end of May 2018. On June 04, 2018 to May 2019, the office was appointed to Dr. Mayvelyn S. Covita, concurrently as Department Head of Hospitality and Tourism Management in the School of Accountancy and Business.  Following this, on June 1, 2019 to July 2025, the administration of the office was appointed to Mrs. Joan B. Taroma, MSN, RN.  On August 1, 2025, Mrs. Gayle R. Mercado, MPA, MBA, assumed the Equivalency and Technical Vocational Assessment Office (ETVAO) headship.  Before this appointment, she served as the Coordinator of the TVET–Tourism (Hotel and Restaurant) Sector and as a faculty member of the School of Accountancy and Business under the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

ETVAO’s inception paved the way to numerous opportunities for its stakeholders. With ETVAO’s mission in providing the community with greater opportunity and easy access to education, in partnership with the University’s schools and other units, through its innovation in creating more flexible and alternative scheme of acquiring skills and knowledge, ETVAO has been tremendously changing and uplifting the quality of lives of its clientele and their productivity in the community.

Now, the Equivalency and Technical Vocational Assessment Office has evolved not only as an academic leverage to students but also as a vehicle towards the productivity of clients in the community.

ETVAO is currently responsible and accountable for the smooth implementation of four (4) important programs, in partnership with the University’s schools and other units, namely the CHED-Authorized Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), TESDA-Accredited Assessment Center Services Program, Competency-based Technical Education Skills Development (CBTESD) Program and the Community-Based Training Program.