MBHTE-BARMM Visits UPOU to Explore Partnership in Bridging Educational Gaps in BARMM

The Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MBHTE-BARMM), led by Director-General for Basic Education, Marjuni Maddi, visited the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) on 30 September 2024. They were received by UPOU Officials at the Office of the Chancellor Conference Room at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. 

Director-General Maddi explained that the purpose of their visit was to discuss potential collaborations that can bridge educational gaps in the region.  Dr. Charisse T. Reyes, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Education, shared the UPOU’s Pagtulay program, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at reaching underserved communities through Open Distance and E-Learning (ODeL).

UP and UPOU officials were present during the visit, both in person and virtually. UP System Executive Vice President Jose Fernando Alcantara and UP Diliman Assistant Professor Ranjit Rye attended, while UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Primo Garcia joined via Zoom. UPOU Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Jean Saludadez, University Registrar Luisa Gelisan, Dr. Ria Borromeo, Director of the Office of Student Affairs, Dr. Diego Silang Maranan, Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies, and  Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, Director of the Office of Public Affairs, were also in attendance. The group discussed ways to strengthen the partnership between the two institutions.

Both institutions look forward to further collaboration to leverage UPOU’s expertise in open distance and e-learning to address the unique educational needs of the BARMM. By combining UPOU’s innovative learning approaches with MBHTE-BARMM’s commitment to educational equity, the partnership aims to bridge educational gaps, empower learners, and contribute to the region’s overall educational development.

Written by Zyrene Edrei Villanueva ♦ Edited by Dr. Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photo by Anna Mhari Duria

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UPOU partners with the DHSUD through the MOU signing to strengthen capacity-building for planners and technical staff across the country.INPHOTOS: The MOU, signed during the Planners’ Network Launch on September 10, 2025 in Quezon City, formalizes a partnership to develop and deliver Microcredentials, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), and Continuing Education Programs (CEP) on topics related to housing, human settlements, and urban development.Representing UPOU as signatory was Chancellor Dr. Joane V. Serrano, with Dean Dr. Finaflor Taylan serving as witness.Through this collaboration, UPOU’s innovative open and distance e-learning platforms, MODeL and ASCEND, will serve as avenues for professional growth, lifelong learning, and knowledge-sharing — empowering Local Government Units (LGUs), urban planners, and other key stakeholders to build sustainable, resilient, and inclusive communities.Together with DHSUD, UPOU reaffirms its commitment to making quality education accessible and impactful — shaping the future of urban planning and development in the Philippines.#UPOU #DHSUD #PLANADO #PlannersNetwork #OpenDistanceELearning #SustainableCommunities #CapacityBuilding ... See MoreSee Less
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