News

"It goes without saying that quality assurance has to be and should always be embedded in our process, knowledge products and services." This was what Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria emphasized during her Keynote Speech at the recently concluded 31st Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia held on 27-29 September 2017. UP Open University (UPOU) Chancellor and AAOU President Dr. Bandalaria tackled "Quality Assurance in Open Universities" for the second plenary speech of the conference, which carried the theme "Open University for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education." Dr. Bandalaria started her discussion by [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), represented by Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Director of the Information Office and the Multimedia Center, was part of the 2nd World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress held at Ljubljana, Slovenia on 18-20 September 2017. The congress, which gathered ministers, educators, and OER advocates from different regions and countries, carried the theme, "OER for Inclusive and Equitable Quality Education: From Commitment to Action." This commitment refers back to the 1st World OER Congress and the 2012 Paris OER Declaration. The 2012 Paris OER declaration encourages governments to require publicly funded educational resources to [...]

UP Open University (UPOU) Doctor of Communication (DComm) Alumnus, Reynaldo Gacho Segumpan, presented his dissertation in Sydney, Australia during the Australia and New Zealand Business, Law and Social Science Conference on August 18-20, 2017. Mr. Segumpan's dissertation, entitled "Understanding Mediated Intercultural Communication: An Ethnomethodological Study of Social Media Engagement Practices of Asian Expatriates," was completed under the advisory of Dr. Jean A. Saludadez. His research explored what the Asian expatriates' practices are when they engage in mediated intercultural communication. Three themes emerged as a result of his study -- social media engagement as everyday practice, social media engagement as a [...]

"I hope that in the future, we attempt to open and offer ourselves – our knowledge, abilities, and skills – to our country and even to the world – an actualization of Oblation's selfless offering of oneself to humanity." Reflecting upon the value and essence of 'openness' and how it allows achieving academic success was the quintessence of this year's valedictory address. Mr. Ericson Peñalba, the top graduate of the Masters in Development Communication (MDC) from the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), delivered his valedictory address during the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) 21st Commencement Exercises [...]

Twenty-five research papers on open and distance eLearning (ODeL) authored by UP Open University (UPOU) faculty members; research, extension and professional staff (REPS); administrative employees, and research assistants were presented in the 31st Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU). Two of these research papers were given Young Innovators Awards. Assistant Professors Reinald Adrian Pugoy and Mari Anjeli Lubrica-Crisanto, faculty members of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), each received a Silver Medal for their respective research papers. Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, as the UPOU Chancellor and AAOU President, led the UPOU delegation composed [...]

Assistant Professor Rameses De Jesus was appointed as Officer-in-Charge (OIC)-Director of the UP Open University Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) effective 25 August 2017. He replaced Asst. Prof. Finaflor Taylan as Director of the OGC who is currently on study leave for her PhD degree. A faculty member of the Faculty of Education, Asst. Prof. De Jesus teaches courses on basic guidance and counseling, gender and society, and communication skills for the undergraduate programs and professional teaching certification program of UPOU. He previously served as OIC-Director of the OGC in the first quarter of 2017. Asst. Prof. De Jesus has [...]