About - University of the Philippines Open University

Established on 23 February 1995, the University of the Philippines – Open University (UPOU) pioneered online teaching and learning and continues to play a leading role in the study and practice of open learning and distance education in the Philippines.

UPOU is envisioned as a leader in teaching and learning in the digital age, helping to equip Filipinos with the knowledge and skills they need for life and work in the 21st century.

Our mission is to provide Filipinos everywhere access to quality higher education through innovative methods of teaching and learning that are designed to be responsive to their needs as well as to national development priorities. We are the nation’s most comprehensive distance education institution, offering a wide range of degree programs in the undergraduate and graduate levels in the fields of education, information and communication studies, and management and development studies.

To reach more learners, UPOU offers Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and Continuing Education Programs (CEPs). It also shares open educational resources in various media formats through its platform, UPOU Networks. In addition, UPOU offers a microcredentialing program as a strategy to upskill Filipino professionals and provide flexible pathways between non-formal and formal learning through credit transfer and stackable credentials.

In line with its mandate, UPOU also develops and shares innovative instructional strategies and technologies with other colleges and universities through cooperative programs. Under Republic Act 10650 (Open Distance Learning Law), UPOU is tasked to assist relevant national agencies, higher education institutions, and technical and vocational institutions in developing and improving their distance education programs through training, technical assistance, research, and other academic programs.

UPOU’s research extends beyond open and distance e-learning (ODeL) to include various disciplines covered by its academic programs. Its research on ODeL seeks to advance both theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. At the core of UPOU’s approach to open learning is the belief that education must be transformational for both learners and the communities they serve. UPOU continues to align its research with sustainable development goals, using technology and innovative frameworks to better understand complex challenges and help find real-world solutions.

Mission

The UP Open University seeks to provide wider access to quality higher education. It shall adhere to the highest standards of academic excellence , guarantee academic freedom , and encourage social responsibility and nationalistic commitment among its faculty, staff and students.

Vision

The UP Open University shall be at the forefront of the knowledge society as a leading institution of open learning and distance education.

Objectives

Specifically, the UPOU has the following goals:

To provide opportunities for alternative access to quality higher education by offering baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate degree programs and non-formal courses by distance education.
To develop a system of continuing education for sustaining professional growth and improving technical skills especially for those who cannot leave their jobs or homes for full-time studies; and
To contribute towards upgrading the quality of residential instruction in the University and the educational system of the country, in general, by developing, testing and utilizing innovative instructional materials and technology, and sharing these with other colleges and universities through cooperative programs.