The last but not the least. The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) will be holding its 25th Commencement Exercises this 11 December 2021 — the last of the University of the Philippines (UP) System graduation rites for the year. All other seven UP Constituent Units (CUs) have held theirs starting the second quarter of the year.
UPOU will carry the theme, “University of the Future: Sustainability and Agility Amidst Disruptions,” consistent with the theme for its 26th Anniversary held February of this year. This year’s Commencement Speaker is Ambassador Elizabeth P. Buensuceso, Foreign Affairs Adviser, Department of Foreign Affairs.
Amb. Buensuceso has been with the Philippine Foreign Service for more than 41 years. She was formerly Ambassador to Norway, with concurrent accreditation to Denmark and Iceland. She was also Ambassador to Laos. Her other previous postings include Brussels, Beijing, Singapore and Hongkong. She was awarded with the Presidential Grand Cross, Gawad Kamanong, rank of Commander in 2017. Her Office, the Permanent Mission of the Philippines to ASEAN, was recognized as the Best Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) organization in 2018. Until recently, she served as the Undersecretary for Bilateral Relations and ASEAN Affairs and Permanent Representative /Ambassador to ASEAN. Amb. Buensuceso is also a graduate of the Master of ASEAN Studies program of UPOU.
The UPOU Class of 2021 consists of a total of 556 candidates — 69 from the three undergraduate programs; 43 from the two graduate certificate programs; 261 from 12 graduate diploma programs; 157 from 11 master’s programs; and 26 graduates from the two doctoral programs of UPOU.
This batch also boasts of 55 graduates with honors. Five undergraduate students finished with Latin honors, while 17 candidates are on the Chancellor’s List with a GWA of 1.00 to 1.14. Thirty-three are one the Dean’s List whose GWA is from 1.15 to 1.24.
The Commencement Exercises will be held virtually and will be streamed live via the UPOU Networks Website, the UPOU Website and the UPOU Facebook Page. Everyone is invited to witness the event, especially friends and family members of the UPOU graduates.
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas
Edited by Joane V. Serrano
Graphics by Lovelyn P. Petrasanta
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