Following the Quest for Excellence given by the Global Performance Excellence Program (GPEA), Southville’s Virtual Online Learning and Teaching (VOLT) program has been awarded platinum by the APQO International Best Practice (AIBP) during its conference in Australia in 2021. The AIBP is under the Asia Pacific Quality Organization (APQO) which encourages and recognizes quality professionals and organizations, domiciled in the Asia Pacific region primarily in New Zealand, bringing together professional quality organizations that border on the Pacific Ocean. Southville met the Platinum Award requirements having exemplified VOLT’s relevance, performance standards, and positive business impact in the pandemic.

Southville is one of the most prepared institutions in the Philippines for digital learning having continually used online learning tools since 2010. The Southville Virtual Online Learning and Teaching (VOLT) Program was fully implemented in 2020, a combination of the institution’s existing digital expertise and adoption of the US-based International Standards for Quality Online Teaching. The international standards led to the creation of the VOLT standards which were evaluated for effectiveness.

The VOLT Program provides students with a meaningful, rigorous, and relevant virtual online education anchored on international standards  and supported by heavy investments in technological infrastructure and the professional development of faculty and staff. 

It was unveiled to the Southville community after the lockdown was implemented. Both Teaching and Non-Teaching Employees went through an intensive training led by the Core VOLT Team and Academic Heads with primary focuses on enhancing course designs fit for online learning, use of MOODLE as the learning management system, and  engagement tools to ensure Cognitive, Social and Teaching Presence.