The University of Philippines Open University (UPOU) joined the international benchmarking consortium led by Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU) in the development of the Benchmarking Framework and Data Set for Online, Open, Smart, and Technology-Enhanced Higher Education. Dr. Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, UPOU Chancellor, supported the initiative and delegated Dr. Primo G. Garcia, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) to be part of the Technical Working Group (TWG). The task of the TWG was to develop and agree on a set of benchmarking criteria and indicators for Online, Open, Smart and Technology-enhanced Higher Education. The announcement of the framework was one of the highlights of HBMSU’s 14th edition of the “Innovation Arabia” conference and exhibition, which was launched virtually on 22 February 2021, and ran until 24 February 2021.
Carrying the theme of “Innovation Everywhere,” the Benchmark Framework carried six dimensions that have 39 overall indicators reflecting the characteristics of online learning. These dimensions and indicators can be used by online universities and other budding institutions for their quality assurance and self-assessment to improve their overall quality and credibility.
Chancellor Bandalaria expressed pleasure on the work of the committee as timely and relevant with the context of the world in the midst of the global pandemic. This urged her to support the promotion of the framework by raising awareness and not limiting its use by just online universities, but also of other educational institutions that integrated online components into their pedagogies.
Dean Garcia stated that this framework would give these institutions the idea of what to work with without impeding the freedom to consider the context of their organizations. He centered on the idea that the framework will also provide these participating institutions a space to exchange practices and information, which he hopes will improve the quality of online teaching and learning around the world.
Building on HBMSU’s mission for learner-centric and game-changing discoveries to secure the growth of its constituents, Chancellor Bandalaria and Dean Garcia, respected their passion for results and brought the UPOU perspective to the table, fuelling the process of innovation through the idea of the University of the Future where there would be quality education for all.
Sustainable Development Goals
Written by Keizer Ancajas
Edited by Joane V. Serrano and Anna Canas-Llamas
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