Development of the Quality Management System and Annual Operating Program

Abraham Castellanos Polytechnic University of Nochixtlán (UPN) (2023)

1. Context

The Abraham Castellanos Polytechnic University of Nochixtlán (UPN) is a recently established institution (2020) located in the Mixteca region of the state of Oaxaca, one of the areas with the highest rates of marginalization and educational backwardness in the country. Faced with the need to consolidate its administrative and academic processes, the university requested specialized technical assistance to design a Quality Management System (QMS) and develop its Annual Operating Program (AOP) in accordance with national and international standards.

2. Project objective

The main objective was to strengthen the institutional management of the UPN by designing and implementing tools that would ensure regulatory compliance, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.

The specific objectives included:

• Develop the Quality Management System (QMS) Manual in accordance with ISO 9001:2015 (NMX-CC-9001-IMNC-2015).

• Develop the Annual Operating Program (AOP) in line with the National Development Plan, the Sectoral Education Program, and the 2030 Agenda.

• Train management and administrative staff in the principles of quality management and in the formulation of institutional goals and indicators.

3. Methodology

The process was carried out in three main phases:

1. Institutional diagnosis: review of current regulations, organizational chart, substantive functions, and administrative processes; identification of strengths, weaknesses, and areas of opportunity through interviews with all areas of the university.

2. Design of the Quality Management System: development of the Quality Manual and basic procedures, incorporating best practices in educational management according to ISO 9001:2015, with definitions of leadership, planning, document control, performance evaluation, and continuous improvement.

3. Training and technical support: delivery of the Quality Management Workshop with an ISO focus, aimed at strengthening staff competencies to operate the system and apply planning and evaluation tools.

4.Results

The project consolidated the foundations of the UPN's institutional quality and planning system:

• A Quality Manual with 26 sections structured according to ISO standards, which defines the context, leadership, planning, operation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of the system.

• An updated institutional diagnosis, with indicators for academic management, outreach, and gender equality.

• Annual Operating Program 2023, aligned with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 8, which includes targets for academic certification, outreach, equity, and infrastructure.

• Training for all administrative and academic staff to understand and adopt the ISO model of quality management, ensuring the continuity of the AOP in future years.

5. Impact

The project strengthened the university's institutional framework and operational capacity, establishing a formal planning and quality framework for the first time. Thanks to this support, UPN now has the tools to ensure continuous improvement, administrative transparency, and organizational sustainability, as well as to move toward educational quality certification processes in the short term.