UPOU Quality Assurance Office (QAO) Director Ria Valerie Cabanes (center) with Bicol University Faculty Researchers Dr. Richard M. Lorente (left) and Dr. Arnel A. Lorenzana (right), together with QAO personnel Ms. Maelyn Pisueña (leftmost) and Office of Public Affairs (OPA) staff Ms. Marinela Hernandez (rightmost).
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) held a benchmarking activity with Bicol University on 16 March 2026 via Zoom, focusing on the development and implementation of microcredentials.
Quality Assurance Office (QAO) Director Ria Valerie Cabanes facilitated the discussion together with Ms. Maelyn Pisueña. The presentation provided an overview of UPOU’s microcredential initiatives, including how the program started, existing policies, and current offerings.
A key part of the benchmarking centered on the implementation of microcredentials across several critical areas. These included governance structures, quality assurance and the policies that guide program development. The session also covered design principles that ensure the relevance of the microcredential courses, as well as the scope of learner participation.
Further discussions explored delivery formats, crediting systems, and the approval process for microcredential programs. UPOU also shared insights into the overall implementation strategies that support flexible, accessible, and quality-assured learning pathways.
Representatives from Bicol University, including Arnel A. Lorenzana and Faculty Researcher Richard M. Lorente, actively engaged in the discussion and expressed interest in organizing a training session in the near future to support their own microcredential implementation efforts.
The benchmarking activity reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to advancing innovative learning models and strengthening collaboration in the field of flexible and lifelong education.
Written and Photos by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Primo Garcia
