News

The opening of the new academic year awaits the 3,894 registered graduate and undergraduate students this Saturday, 25 August 2018, at the UP Open University (UPOU). For UPOU students, this does not mean travelling to its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna or booking dorms beforehand. It means finally accessing UPOU's virtual classroom, MyPortal, and getting to know classmates, professors and the requirements for their specific online course.This start of the Academic Year 2018-2019 is a brand new chapter for some -- the excitement of meeting new friends from all over the world or the mere feeling of independence. For others, [...]

"I was fortunate to be chosen as one of the proud delegates to represent Philippines. The summit has given me a glimpse of what social and transformative leadership is all about. Everything was beyond meaningful." This is how Mr. Rolly James Cheng, a University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) PhD student described his experience as he attended the 6th ASEAN Future Leaders Summit (AFLES) held from 22 July - 3 August 2018 at Malaysia and Southern Thailand. The summit, attended by 200 delegates from 10 ASEAN countries, aims to bring together potential student leaders and participants from among the [...]

University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) is now a member of the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network, an international association of higher education institutions who have endorsed the 10 AFU principles and are committed to becoming more age-friendly in their programs and policies. Dr. Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, Chancellor of UPOU, through Dr. Alexander G. Flor, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), sent a letter of interest to join the network and in endorsement of the 10 Age-Friendly Principles, namely: To encourage the participation of older adults in all the core activities of the [...]

Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao, Dean of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Education (FEd), has been chosen by Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Asia to receive the Education Leadership Award at the 9th Asia's Education Excellence Awards, held on 31 July to 1 August 2018 in Le Meridien Singapore, Sentosa.Asia's Education Excellence Awards is given to honor people who surpassed the level of excellence on their work, have set an example of being a role model and an exemplary leader. The aim of the award is also to recognize individuals and institutions who believe in making a [...]

Dr. Diego Silang Maranan, Assistant Professor of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), shared his research works and practice in Cognitive Innovation as part of the course "Cognitive Science 1: Introduction to Cognitive Science" on 31 July 2018 at the University of California, Berkeley. The lecture, titled "Collaboration and Cognitive Innovation: the Eureka Moment, Floating Brains, Reimagining the Body, and Acoustic Osteology," was a collection of examples of the works and practice of approaching Cognitive Innovation from Dr. Maranan and three other CogNovo fellows. Dr. Maranan presented two examples of his [...]

Two hundred sixty-five newly admitted students, with family and friends, visited the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) headquarters on 28 July 2018 for this year's Student Orientation and Campus Tour. In addition to those who attended physically, 153 newly admitted students attended the orientation via web streaming. Spearheaded by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), in cooperation with the UPOU Faculty Offices, Office of the University Registrar, Information Office, Multimedia Center and Library, the 2018 Student Orientation and Campus Tour was conducted to acquaint new students with their new university and prepare them for the non-traditional mode of [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) received the Diploma of Service Award from the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on 31 July 2018 at the Cultural Center of Laguna, Capitol Compound, Sta. Cruz, Laguna. In celebration of the Blood Donors' Month this July, the PRC recognized individuals and partner institutions who took part in helping save lives by rendering selfless service to the humanitarian organization. This year's theme, "Be there for someone else: Give blood. Share life." aims to inspire other people to give helping hands to the indigent members of the community. Director Cirila Jorvina, Chairman of the [...]

Joannes Paulus Tolentino Hernandez, RN; MAN, a Doctor of Communication (DComm) student of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies(FICS), bagged the first mention in the oral presentation category during the Second International Conference on Technological Competency as Caring in the Health Sciences at Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan from 17 - 19 August 2018. Mr. Hernandez presented a theoretical paper titled, "Network Diffusion and Technology Acceptance of A Nurse Chatbot for Chronic Disease Self-Management Support" which discussed the possible acceptability of the 'Nurse Chatbot' and its capacity to improve the non-patient care activities of the nurses [...]

The deadline for submission of the application forms of students from Metro Manila private high schools was July 27 and was extended to today, July 30, 2018.All applications submitted today--physically or by courier (timestamped today)--will be accepted as within the deadline. Everyone remaining in line today will be accommodated. To serve the high volume of applicants, lines have been segmented and dropboxes with someone receiving the forms are available at the Office of Admissions. UPCAT applicants are estimated to have risen to 167,000 this year from 103,000 last year, largely because of the free-tuition policy.As stated on the UPCAT website [...]

Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, Chancellor of the UP Open University (UPOU) and President of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), will be one of the speakers in the International Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (ICODeL2018) to be held on 26-28 November 2018 at the Garden Villa Hotel, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ICODEL2018 is organized by the UPOU, the National University of Kaohsiung, the Open University of Kaohsiung, the UPOU Foundation, Inc. (UPOUFI), and the Philippine Society for Distance Learning (PSDL). Dr. Bandalaria will bring to the conference her expertise and experience from more than 20 years of academic leadership [...]