Chancellor Joane Serrano (center) with Susan Yap (to her right) with the delegates from the Tarlac City local government unit and UPOU officials.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), led by Chancellor Joane Serrano, welcomed the Tarlac City Government, led by Mayor Susan Yap, for an exploratory meeting held on 20 May 2026 at the UPOU World Class Multimedia Production Building (soon to be Digital Futures Hub).
The exploratory meeting emphasized the importance of community-initiated engagement in advancing accessible education.
UPOU Chancellor Serrano delivers her welcoming remarks at the meeting.
“Natutuwa kami na ang ganitong uri ng inisyatiba ay nagmumula mismo sa komunidad na nagnanais palawakin ang access sa edukasyon,” Chancellor Serrano shared, highlighting UPOU’s commitment to reaching learners beyond traditional campus settings.
Central to the discussion was the possible establishment of a UPOU–Tarlac Hub that may serve as a learning center, community training facility, and venue for multisectoral collaboration. The proposed hub is envisioned to support both formal and non-formal learning opportunities for local citizens.
Mayor Susan Yap sharing her remarks on the partnership.
Mayor Yap expressed appreciation for the engagement, and conveyed the LGU’s openness to supporting the initiative and underscored the importance of strengthening education and governance capacity-building for local stakeholders, particularly government workers.
PDA for UPOU Linkages Asst. Prof. Remsce Pasahol presents the university’s academic offerings, including degree programs, MOOCs, microcredentials, and other flexible learning pathways.
Program Development Associate for UPOU Linkages Asst. Prof Remsce Pasahol presented the university’s academic offerings, including degree programs, MOOCs, microcredentials, and other flexible learning pathways. Discussions also covered admissions processes, learner support systems, and potential collaboration in library services and community-based learning initiatives.
The meeting also highlighted opportunities for multisectoral partnerships involving civil society organizations, non-government organizations, state universities and colleges, and local universities and colleges.
Tarlac City LGU delegates visit the EMP Studio and E-skoLab.
Delegates from the Tarlac City local government unit also visited the Educational Media Production (EMP) Studio, where learning materials are produced and recorded, and the ISCO Lab, which features the Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP) initiatives of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS).
Tokens of appreciation were exchanged by both parties as a symbol of the beginning of the partnership established between the institutions.
The exploratory meeting reflects a shared commitment between UPOU and the Tarlac City LGU to expand access to education through innovative, community-driven, and flexible learning approaches.
Both parties expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in building inclusive learning spaces through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement scheduled for June 2026.
Written by Marinela Hernandez | Edited by Anna Canas-Llamas and Primo Garcia | Photos by Dianne Cosinas
