FICS Faculty Members Participate in Google APAC 2025 - University of the Philippines Open University

Dr. Reinald Pugoy and Dr. Ria Mae Borromeo, faculty members of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), actively participated in the “Gen AI at Work APAC 2025” event hosted by Google Workspace. Held at the Google Manila Office on 23 April 2025, this event showcased the transformative capabilities of Gemini with Google Workspace, emphasizing the future of AI-powered collaboration in professional settings.

The event featured immersive experiences such as the ‘Prompt Challenge’, Gemini-powered Photo Booth, and ‘NotebookLM Studio’, allowing attendees to interact firsthand with cutting-edge AI tools integrated into Gmail, Docs, Meet, and other Workspace applications. Key sessions included insights from Google leaders and industry experts on practical AI transformation strategies, as well as discussions on enabling secure collaboration in the era of AI.

Dr. Pugoy, known for his expertise in artificial intelligence and e-learning technologies, and Dr. Borromeo, recognized for her work in digital transformation in education, engaged with fellow professionals to explore the integration of AI in educational and organizational contexts. Their participation underscores FICS’s commitment to keeping pace with technological advancements and integrating these innovations into academic and administrative practices.

By attending events like Google APAC 2025, FICS faculty members continue to build collaborations and gather insights that support the development of educational strategies aligned with emerging trends in information, communication, and technology.

Post from FICS

Sustainable Development Goals

#UPOpenUniversity

UP Open University (UPOU)

14 hours ago

The 7th AAWS Congress opened with compelling plenary sessions that framed key conversations on empowerment, inclusion, and women’s scholarship.Plenary 1, “Revisioning Gender/Women’s Studies in the Post-Pandemic World: Work for Empowerment,” was delivered by Assoc. Prof. Finaflor F. Taylan, Dean of UPOU FMDS and President of AAWS. Dr. Taylan discussed how crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic deepened gender inequalities—particularly in sectors with high female participation—and intensified unpaid care work. She emphasized the need to integrate crisis-related realities, including gendered vulnerabilities, labor shifts, and digital divides, into Gender/Women’s Studies teaching and research, and called for stronger advocacy toward gender-responsive recovery and structural transformation. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A moderated by Asst. Prof. Lorena Jean Saludadez.The second plenary, “Emerging Issues in Diversity, Multiculturalism, and Democracy in Asia: The Role of Advocates,” was presented by Dr. Aileen Park, Associate Professor at Philippine Normal University Mindanao and AAWS Council Member. Drawing from migration-related experiences in the United States, Korea, and Australia, Dr. Park explored discriminatory practices and highlighted the importance of a multivoiced academic mindset rooted in cultural sensitivity, self-awareness, and social responsibility. The session was moderated by Asst. Prof. Maria Lourdes Jarabe, Director of UPOU’s Office of Gender Concerns.Several Parallel Presentation Sessions were also held in the afternoon, featuring research topics on Evolution of Women and Gender Studies Across Asia; Gender, Social Inclusion and Women Empowerment in ASEAN; Women’s Struggles and Democracy in Asia; Gender and Development: ASEAN’s Performance on the SDGs; Gender, Social Inclusion and Women Empowerment in ASEAN; and it also included a Colloquium where UPOU undergraduate and graduate students present their research studies.#AAWSCongress2025 #EmpowerSustainDemocratize #AsianWomenInFocus #SDG5GenderEquality #UPOU ... See MoreSee Less

View on Facebook

Related Stories:

#UPOpenUniversity