Four students from UPOU’s BA Multimedia Studies program engage in a 13-week international collaboration on language learning technologies.
Four students from the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) program under the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) completed a 13-week virtual exchange hosted by the School of Engineering at the University of Tokyo. Held from 21 April to 14 July 2025, the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) program was facilitated by Professor Yuka Akiyama.
The participating students—Joinne Sherry May Alcano, Cathleen Kayley Basaca, Renzel Ivy Francisco, and Miki Tolentino—collaborated with fellow participants from Japan and other countries to design and develop wireframes for language learning applications. These group projects aimed to explore creative ways to support language learning using technology.
To build rapport and intercultural skills, the program began with virtual activities on cultural exchange and skills development before transitioning into project work. According to Francisco, being a student in an open university allowed her to have the time and equipment to engage meaningfully in the virtual exchange. Basaca added that the facilitator’s efforts in encouraging communication among participants helped them gain confidence in sharing ideas with an international audience.
The students presented their final outputs in a hybrid setup on 14 July 2025 at the UPOU Multimedia Theater, DICT Building, UP Diliman, Quezon City. The presentation was attended by FICS Dean Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr., and Assistant Professor Lorena Jean Saludadez of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), who also serves as UP VINTA Coordinator for UPOU.
Dean Figueroa awarded certificates of completion and tokens of appreciation to the students for their contribution to the exchange.
Miki Tolentino, who is based in Japan, enrolled in the BAMS program through UP VINTA—an academic initiative designed to make UP education accessible to overseas Filipino workers and their families.
Through this virtual exchange, UPOU continues to promote global collaboration and expand learning opportunities through technology-enabled international exchange.
Written by Joy Abigail Rebulanan | Edited by Shari Eunice San Pablo
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