Director Ria Valerie Cabanes from UPOU QAO and Director Allan Paul Tang of the LEAD Center at Miriam College (center) with UPOU and LEAD Center personnel.
The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) welcomed visitors from the Lifelong Education and Development (LEAD) Center of Miriam College for a benchmarking activity on 27 May 2025, held at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.
Director Ria Valerie Cabanes of the UPOU Quality Assurance Office (QAO), together with Assistant to the Director Anna Cañas-Llamas of the UPOU Office of Public Affairs, received the visiting team led by Director Allan Paul Tang of the LEAD Center at Miriam College. The delegation also included Mr. Mon Ritche Y. Bacero, Education Technology Manager; Mr. Ryan M. Noleal, Program Manager; Mr. Marion Jude M. Gorospe, Distance Education Program Officer; and Mr. Moreto P. Valiao III, Program Strategist and Support.
The visit centered on UPOU’s best practices in Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL), Microcredentials, and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The discussions explored how UPOU developed its ODeL system, how it differs from traditional academic models, and the institutional policies and guidelines that support it.
A particular focus was placed on UPOU’s Microcredential programs—specifically the development process, enrollment criteria, crediting policies, and learner assessment methods. The group also explored the program’s potential areas for future expansion.
The delegation further examined key aspects of ODeL implementation, such as faculty workloads, assessment methods, and the academic calendar for both trimestral and semestral terms. They expressed strong interest in adopting ODeL practices for basic education, emphasizing how the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped perspectives on educational delivery. “This is the future of higher education,” remarked Director Tang, highlighting the relevance of ODeL in today’s academic landscape.
Dir. Cabanes and Ms. Cañas-Llamas received the visitors from the Miriam College LEAD Center.
The visitors also shared that they had enrolled in UPOU’s MOOCs on ODeL and expressed enthusiasm about participating in further training through the UPOU Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning. They look forward to establishing long-term partnerships with UPOU.
Aligned with Republic Act 10650, the Open Distance Learning Act, and its commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) No. 4 (Quality Education) and No. 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), UPOU continues to serve as a catalyst for collaboration among educational institutions. These initiatives aim to deliver inclusive, high-quality education and foster collective progress in the academic sector.
Written by Marinel Hernandez ♦ Edited by Primo Garcia and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photo by Elvy Pamulaklakin and Marinela Hernandez
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