The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) participated in the UP Graduate Mentorship and Research Summit held from 23 to 24 September 2025, at GT-Toyota Asian Center Auditorium, UP Diliman, with the theme: “Strengthening UP’s Leadership as the Country’s Premier Graduate, Research, and Public Service University: Policies, Programs, and Pathways Forward.”
The two-day event, organized by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines System, brought together academic and research leaders across the UP system.
Representatives from UPOU led by Chancellor Joane V. Serrano (seater, center)
Representing UPOU at the summit were Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Chancellor; Dr. Aurora V. Lacaste, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Dr. Myra Oruga, Assistant to the VCAA for Research; and Deans of the Faculty of Studies, namely, Dr. Charisse T. Reyes (FEd), Dr. Roberto Figueroa, Jr. (FICS), and Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan (FMDS). Also in attendance were program chairs: Dr. Dennis Lee Jarvis B. Ybañez (Doctor of Philosophy in Education), Dr. Jean A.Saludadez (Doctor of Communication), and Dr. Leo Mendel Rosario, who represented the Doctor in Sustainability on behalf of Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao.
The summit served as a platform for collective reflection and strategic planning among the academic, research, and creative work communities. It aimed to strengthen graduate education, research, and public service across the UP system. The goal of the summit is for academic leaders to bring forward key issues and proposals to their respective units for further discussion and feedback.
This initiative aligns with the University’s mandate under RA 9500 (UP Charter of 2008) — An Act to Strengthen the University of the Philippines as the National University. The summit also serves as a venue to assess the progress made under RA 9500 and to chart forward-looking strategies in PhD education, research and development, and public service.
UPOU officials and program chairs at the UP Graduate Mentorship and Research Summit
The summit is part of the ongoing efforts of the UP Task Force, created under Administrative Order No. PAJ 25-18 (Constitution of Task Force for Enhancing PhD Graduation, R&D and Public Service Performance), which seeks to enhance PhD graduation rates, research and development, and public service performance.
UPOU upholds the directive of the UP as the National University, and remains committed to its core mission of excellence in teaching, research, and public service.
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