UPOU Chancellor Joane V. Serrano shares her insights on sustainable open education in the digital age.
UPOU Chancellor Joane V. Serrano represented the UP Open University in key activities at the 38th Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) Annual Conference, held on 20-23 October 2025 in Beijing, China, where she participated in a governance meeting, contributed to a panel in digital education, and formally accepted the university’s accreditation.
AAOU Governance
Chancellor Serrano’s engagement began with AAOU’s 39th Executive Committee Meeting held on 20 October 2025. The meeting included an extensive 15-item agenda aimed at shaping the association’s strategic future.
The discussions revolved around potential partnerships, membership status and application, association awards, staff exchange and fellowship program, collaborative research program, accreditation service, as well as new initiatives and plans for the upcoming annual conferences in the next two years.
AI in Digital Education Panel
Chancellor Serrano also served as a distinguished panelist in a session titled “Sustainable Development of Open Education in the Digital Era.” This session explored innovative strategies and collaborative approaches to enhance open education, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting accessibility and inclusivity in today’s digital landscape.
Joining Dr. Serrano were Prof. Li Song, Vice President, the Open University of China; Prof. Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, President of Open University Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Yusuf Adiguzel, Rector of Anadolu University, Turkey; Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood, Vice Chancellor, Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan; Dr. Dinh Tuan Long, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, Hanoi Open University, Vietnam; and Prof. Suman Kumar Verma, Professor, Department of Mathematics, School of Open Learning, University of Delhi, India. Dr. Matthew Yeung, Dean of the School of Open Learning, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, served as the moderator.
UPOU’s Level 4 Accreditation
A key moment during the conference was the formal conferment of UPOU’s Level 4 Accreditation by AAOU. Chancellor Serrano accepted the award on behalf of UPOU. The accreditation affirms UPOU’s commitment to upholding international standards in open and distance education.
Chancellor Serrano’s active engagement in these forums underscores UPOU’s dedication to global collaboration and its role in shaping the future of open and distance learning.
Written by Angelo Joaquin Ascan and Anna Cañas-Llamas | Edited by Primo G. Garcia
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