The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has reached a significant milestone as its degrees are now officially recognized for equivalency by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The landmark accreditation is expected to pave the way for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the UAE to leverage their UPOU degrees for career advancement and employment opportunities.
UP President Angelo Jimenez said the UAE’s recognition of UPOU’s academic programs underscores the global competitiveness of UP education and reinforces the university’s role in empowering Filipinos worldwide.
“This development will have a profound impact on the professional and economic mobility of our OFWs, enabling them to transition from high-risk, low-paying jobs to safer, more stable, and higher-income positions,” Jimenez said.
“It also strengthens macroeconomic stability by increasing overseas remittances and reducing the financial strain on welfare services extended to OFWs,” he added.
Prior to the said accreditation, OFWs with UPOU degrees reportedly faced challenges in career advancement since their graduate programs were not recognized by the UAE.
Former UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria said the accreditation aligns with the university’s mission to provide quality education to Filipinos worldwide. “This milestone not only strengthens UPOU’s impact but also reinforces UP’s role in providing universal access to quality education through Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL),” Bandalaria said.
Newly appointed UPOU Chancellor Joane V. Serrano vowed to continue expanding UP’s VINTA (UP Ventures for International and Transformative Academia) program. “We are grateful for this accreditation and are fully committed to significantly grow UP’s VINTA program so that Filipinos around the world can avail of high-quality UP education.”
The UAE’s recognition came at the heels of UPOU’s 30th founding anniversary on February 23, 2025. For more information, visit https://www.upou.edu.ph.
Cross posted from UP Website
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