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Beyond the Metaverse design factors: Does conversation in the virtual world matter?

2026-09-14T09:23:15+08:00

Beyond the Metaverse design factors: Does conversation in the virtual world matter? Imagine entering a virtual classroom. Instead of sitting behind a screen, you find yourself inside a three-dimensional learning space where you can walk around, examine objects, manipulate virtual equipment, and move from one activity area to another. The surroundings are visually coherent and the environment responds to what you do. Around you, your fellow students are represented by avatars. There are options to communicate through text, audio, video, spatial audio, and other virtual tools. But what if the conversations are not what makes the experience good? A recent study [...]

Beyond the Metaverse design factors: Does conversation in the virtual world matter?2026-09-14T09:23:15+08:00

Beyond the pandemic: What flexible learning means for the future of education

2026-08-25T12:44:13+08:00

The year 2020 is one of the most remarkable years in the history of education, especially in the Philippines. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that higher education institutions transitioned from traditional classroom instruction to flexible learning (FL) to ensure the sustainability of education despite the world crisis.  When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted classrooms across the globe, schools and universities faced a pressing question: How can education continue when students and teachers cannot be together in the same room? For many institutions, the answer was FL—a blend of online, modular, and limited face-to-face instruction that allowed learning to continue despite [...]

Beyond the pandemic: What flexible learning means for the future of education2026-08-25T12:44:13+08:00

Nurturing a culture that empowers inclusivity: UPOU research sheds light on women-led permaculture

2026-07-28T10:02:12+08:00

Anything can be an instrument to affect change. For students, a single pen stroke can go as far as the revolution of a country. For a woman, a drop of milk could be the channel of nourishment to a whole nation. For a team of researchers from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), however, the earth itself has become a powerful armor for empowering communities and advancing more inclusive, sustainable farming on land and at sea. The project began with a response to a call for gender-focused research. A small group of UPOU researchers saw the chance to [...]

Nurturing a culture that empowers inclusivity: UPOU research sheds light on women-led permaculture2026-07-28T10:02:12+08:00

Walking for better landscapes: A methodology that brings people, place, and nature together

2026-07-21T13:16:25+08:00

Imagine walking on rocky ground under the heat of the sun. You see rocks and stones scattered across the path. As your feet touch the ground, you feel its uneven texture. You instinctively raise your hand to protect your eyes from the sun's glare. Your mind processes all this information without conscious thought. You either avoid the larger rocks or place your feet in ways that keep you stable. As a result, you are able to walk across the uneven ground without falling. These sensory signals, in harmony with your body’s ability to position itself and move around, allows the [...]

Walking for better landscapes: A methodology that brings people, place, and nature together2026-07-21T13:16:25+08:00

UPOU Graduate Tops Environmental Planner Exam, Credits DLUP Experience

2026-06-24T11:19:05+08:00

Teodorico Mariano Collano Jr., a graduate of the University of the Philippines Open University’s Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) program, topped the May 2026 Environmental Planner Computer-Based Licensure Examination with a rating of 90.35%. Teodorico Mariano Collano Jr., a graduate of the Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP) program, ranks 1st in the May 2026 Environmental Planner Licensure Examination. Harvey Eva Advincula placed 8th with a rating of 87.70% while Real Lynd Armonia Andena secured 10th place with 87.60%. DLUP graduates Harvey Eva Advincula (left) and Real Lynd Armonia Andena (right) placed 8th and 10th, respectively, [...]

UPOU Graduate Tops Environmental Planner Exam, Credits DLUP Experience2026-06-24T11:19:05+08:00

Beyond stories: How narratives shape innovation in Philippine tech startups

2026-06-22T15:19:42+08:00

In recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on innovation across all sectors of society. Innovation has been touted as the ultimate key to national competitiveness and development. But what really is innovation? Is it an idea, a process, or an outcome? These are some of the questions explored in a published research article by Raymond Calbay and Jean Saludadez that examines how innovation is created through the founding stories of tech startups.  Dr. Calbay is a Doctor of Communication graduate of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), an Associate Professorial Lecturer at Mapua University, and an affiliate [...]

Beyond stories: How narratives shape innovation in Philippine tech startups2026-06-22T15:19:42+08:00

The future of AI in assessment: UPOU faculty and vice chancellor reflect beyond the trend

2026-05-18T15:49:05+08:00

How will AI reshape the future of student assessment? UPOU Vice Chancellor Aurora Lacaste and faculty members share their perspectives. Generative artificial intelligence (AI) has disrupted teaching and learning by changing how learners access and interpret information and how they engage in academic tasks. While it can support idea generation, targeted information search, and editing, many in the education sector are concerned about its effects on students’ critical thinking and communication skills. To determine how AI can be effectively and responsibly incorporated in assessment, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs convened a Mini-Faculty Conference on 7–8 April [...]

The future of AI in assessment: UPOU faculty and vice chancellor reflect beyond the trend2026-05-18T15:49:05+08:00

Food already within reach: How wild plants can help communities survive disasters

2026-05-28T08:18:19+08:00

“When roads are blocked and relief goods have yet to arrive, the food that can save lives may already be growing nearby.” In disaster-stricken communities, survival often depends on what is immediately available. After Typhoon Haiyan devastated Ormoc City in 2013 and a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck in 2017, many residents faced delays in relief operations due to damaged roads and isolated communities. This May, in celebration of International Biodiversity Month, we highlight a study co-authored by Patricia Anne G. Nazareno, Ricardo Bagarinao, Inocencio Buot Jr, and Cindy G. Ochavillo. Dr. Bagarinao is a Professor at the Faculty of Education and [...]

Food already within reach: How wild plants can help communities survive disasters2026-05-28T08:18:19+08:00

Remote Work Realities:  Findings from a UPOU-Led Study on Employee Stress and Well-being

2026-05-07T16:08:58+08:00

Remote work has become a common practice in some industries. During the pandemic, it was widely adopted to manage the risks of disease transmission. As the world now faces an energy crisis, work-from-home arrangements are again being considered by some countries as a way to reduce fuel consumption. While remote work allows for greater autonomy, convenience, and continuity during times of crisis, it also presents challenges. The experience of isolation, along with the technical requirements of working remotely, can affect employees in different ways. Building on these concerns, a study by Dr. Myra D. Oruga, Professor and Program Chair of [...]

Remote Work Realities:  Findings from a UPOU-Led Study on Employee Stress and Well-being2026-05-07T16:08:58+08:00

Readiness for AI learning begins with usable technology

2026-04-08T11:02:24+08:00

AI can enhance teaching and learning but only if students trust the learning management system (or digital learning platform) and can use it easily. UPOU Associate Professor Reinald Pugoy’s research says that being ready for AI comes from daily interaction with reliable educational technology. “When systems operate intuitively and reliably, users are more confident and more receptive to AI-enhanced features,” said Reinald Adrian D. Pugoy in his study on learning management system usability and artificial intelligence adoption readiness at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The arrival of AI in recent years has been widely viewed as a [...]

Readiness for AI learning begins with usable technology2026-04-08T11:02:24+08:00
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