On 9 October 2025, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) brought the UP System flagship initiative — the UP Ventures for International and Transformative Academia (UP VINTA) — to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, continuing its mission to reach Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) by providing access to quality, flexible, and inclusive education.
The UP VINTA Learning Caravan, spearheaded by UPOU officials led by Chancellor Joane V. Serrano, Dean Charisse Reyes of the Faculty of Education, Assistant Professor Lloyd Lyndel Simporios representing the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), and Assistant Professor Lorena Jean Saludadez, Assistant to the Chancellor for UP VINTA and FMDS regular faculty member, gathered approximately 150 members of the Filipino community in Nanzih, Kaohsiung. The event was organized in collaboration with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO), the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Chancellor Joane Serrano, together with Asst. Prof. Lorena Jean Saludadez, Ms. Zenaida Ramos of OWWA Kaohsiung, Lab. Att. David Des Dicang of MECO-MWO Kaohsiung, Dean Charisse Reyes, Ms. Kathy Yang of DMW-MWO, Asst. Prof. Lloyd Lyndel Simporios, in Nanzih Kaohsiung, Taiwan for the UP VINTA Learning Caravan.
During the information session, the UPOU delegation introduced participants to the university’s diverse range of offerings, including academic degree programs, microcredentials, continuing education programs, and massive open online courses (MOOCs). These are delivered through open and distance e-learning, making higher education more accessible—even to Filipinos working abroad. The faculty representatives also shared insights on their respective programs, highlighting the growing demand for professionals in these fields in the Philippines. This underscores the importance of lifelong learning, which equips individuals with the knowledge and competencies to advance in their professions.
A full house at the UP VINTA Learning Caravan in Nanzih, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, where overseas Filipinos learned about UPOU’s academic programs and opportunities to pursue higher education through open and distance e-learning.
Beyond fulfilling the University’s mandate of expanding access to quality education, UP VINTA seeks to advance efforts toward upskilling, reskilling, and newskilling among Filipino learners and workers — preparing them for safer and more competitive career pathways abroad, or for stable and meaningful employment opportunities upon reintegration in the Philippines.
The UP VINTA will continue to set sail for other countries with Filipino communities, expanding its reach and impact across the globe.
Overseas Filipinos in Taiwan browse through the UPOU brochure during the UP VINTA Learning Caravan
Written by Kimberly Rose Robles | Edited by Lorena Jean Saludadez
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