Dir. Ria Valerie Cabanes (3rd from right) with delegates from WCC and UPOU staff: (L–R) Ms. Marinela Hernandez (UPOU), Dr. Marmelo V. Abante (WCC), Mr. Francis Origenes (WCC), Ms. Maelyn Pisueña (UPOU), Dr. Ma. Cristina J. Estioco (WCC), and Mr. John Mark S. Borbon (WCC).
The UP Open University (UPOU) welcomed delegates from World Citi Colleges (WCC) for a benchmarking activity focused on the UPOU’s Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) practices on 22 April 2026 at the Office of the Chancellor Conference Room at its headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna..
The session was facilitated by Asst. Prof. Ria Valerie Cabanes, Director of the Quality Assurance Office (QAO), with Ms. Maelyn Pisuena, QAO staff. The discussion provided an overview of UPOU’s systems, strategies, and standards in delivering flexible and technology-enabled education.
The WCC delegation included Dr. Ma. Cristina Estioco, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dr. Marmelo V. Abante, Dean of the College of Information Technology; Mr. John Mark S. Borbon, Head of the Quality Assurance and Technology Office; and Mr. Francis Origenes, Director of the Integrated Technology Services Department. They shared their institution’s efforts in exploring the possibility of offering ODeL programs, and expressed interest in further enhancing their learning management system (LMS) by aligning it with best practices in online education.
UPOU resource persons with delegates from WCC during the discussion.
The discussion delved on UPOU’s structured approach to course development through a Quality Circle, and the collaborative framework that ensures that course materials meet high academic and inclusivity standards. They also covered assessment practices in undergraduate programs and examinations being administered as proctored or non-proctored.
Emerging trends in digital education, including the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), were also discussed. UPOU underscored the importance of developing clear institutional policies to guide the ethical and effective use of AI in education.
The WCC delegation also expressed interest in capacity-building initiatives, particularly training programs offered by the UPOU Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL).
The benchmarking activity provided a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, supporting WCC’s efforts to expand its digital learning initiatives while reaffirming UPOU’s role as a leader in open and distance eLearning.
Written by: Marinela S. Hernandez | Edited by Anna Canas-Llamas| Photos by Joaquin Ascan
