Chancellor Serrano at the CHED Higher Education Summit 2026. Photo from the Official Facebook Page of the Higher Education Summit 2026.
UPOU Chancellor Dr. Joane V. Serrano, along with Deans Dr. Roberto Figueroa of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies and Dr. Charisse Reyes of the Faculty of Education, attended the Higher Education Summit (HES) 2026. Chancellor Serrano served as a panelist, contributing insights on Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) as part of national discussions on expanding lifelong learning opportunities in the Philippines.
The summit, organized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), gathered leaders and representatives from State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) at the SMX Clark National University, Pampanga, on 10-12 March 2026. The event was held under the theme “ACHIEVING Sustainable Futures: Transformative Higher Education for Human Capital, Innovation, and Global Responsibility.”
Chancellor Serrano represented UPOU in the 1st Panel Discussion titled Advanced and Accessible Lifelong Learning, which focused on expanding flexible learning pathways through microcredentials, the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), and ODeL. The panel, moderated by Dr. Trixie Marie J. Sison, also featured panelists Commissioner Michelle Ong (CHED), Assistant Secretary Jerome T. Buenviaje (DepEd), Secretary Francisco Benitez (TESDA), Hannibal E. Camua (Philippine Business for Education), Dr. Dodjie S. Maestracampo (Mapúa University), and Dr. Claudia Odette Ayala (Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation).
During the discussion, panelists examined how innovative learning modalities can support a more dynamic and inclusive lifelong learning ecosystem in the country. As the representative for UPOU, Dr. Serrano highlighted how open and distance education enables broader access to higher education and professional development, particularly for adult learners, working professionals, and geographically dispersed students. She also shared UPOU’s experiences in expanding lifelong learning through initiatives such as UP Ventures for International and Transformative Academia (UP VINTA), which enables Overseas Filipino Workers and their families to pursue UP education through flexible online learning; the university’s partnership with the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), which provides learning opportunities and workforce development programs for Persons Deprived of Liberty; and UPOU’s engagement with Indigenous Peoples communities, where education initiatives are co-created with communities to recognize and integrate indigenous knowledge systems.
Through ODeL, institutions like UPOU provide flexible learning opportunities that allow learners to continue their education while balancing work and other responsibilities. These learning pathways support the broader goal of strengthening workforce adaptability and promoting continuous skills development in an evolving labor market.
The panel formed part of a series of discussions aligned with the ACHIEVE Agenda, a strategic framework presented during the summit that outlines priority reforms and enabling systems for Philippine higher education from 2025 to 2030.
Chancellor Serrano’s participation emphasized UPOU’s continuing role in advancing ODeL as a key strategy for inclusive and lifelong education, contributing to national efforts to build a flexible and future-ready higher education system.
References:
Silverio, F. (2026, March 12). Higher education summit promises innovation, collaboration. The Manila Times. https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/03/12/regions/higher-education-summit-promises-innovation-collaboration/2298636
Written by Sydney Rovin Macahiya | Edited by Anna Cañas-Llamas | Photo from the Official Facebook Page of the Higher Education Summit 2026
