To share best practices in the development and management of open and distance eLearning programs, the UP Open University, facilitated a focus group discussion (FDG) for the second time with the personnel of Ifugao State University (IFSU) on 20 May 2018 at its IFSU Campus in Lamut, Ifugao. The FGD is part of the Cascading Best Practices Program (CBPP). The UPOU team lead by Chancellor Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria met with 27 faculty and staff members involved in the IFSU distance education programs for a needs assessment and evaluation. They discussed the difficulties they encountered as student-participants in the Open [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), in collaboration with the Sukhothai Thammatirat Open University (STOU) in Thailand, conducted a "Seminar on Online Assessment" on 24 May 2018 at the Audiovisual Room of UPOU in Los Baños, Laguna, and online via networks.upou.edu.ph. The seminar featured the experience of STOU in Online Assessment, specifically the experience of the lecturers from Office of Registration, Records and Evaluation, Dr. Prathana Phonapichat and Dr. Anusorn Koedsri. Dr. Phonapichat shared about the STOU Test Research and Development Center. She explained that STOU creates tests for 400 subjects every semester using item banking. According to [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) organized the "Cultivating Accessible and Inclusive Education: Disability Awareness Seminar" on 18 May 2018 at the Audio Visual Room, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. The seminar is part of @cessUP, one of UPOU's flagship programs, and part of UPOU's thrust towards Universal Accessibility. In her opening remarks, UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, highlighted the possible causes of exclusion identified by UNESCO -- exclusion from having the life prospects needed for learning; exclusion from entry into a school; exclusion from participating in school; exclusion from meaningful learning experiences; exclusion from recognition of [...]

UP Faculty Regent and Former Dean of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Education, Dr. Patricia B. Arinto, along with the members of the ad hoc "Committee to Review Research Extension and Professional Staff (REPS) concerns and to Recommend Policies to Address Them," conducted a consultation meeting with the UPOU REPS on 7 May 2018 at the UPOU Audio Visual Room in Los Baños, Laguna. This is the first of the series of consultation meetings that the Committee will hold among REPS of all UP Constituent Units. UPOU Chancellor Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria welcomed the participants and emphasized that [...]

The UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) conducted a Production and Co-Creation Workshop-Seminar for Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) students at the UPOU Headquarters on 12 May 2018. Led by Assistant Professor Al Francis Librero, Program Chair of the BAMS program, participants were given a glimpse into the higher level courses of BAMS, particularly the production courses and special project. Asst. Prof. Librero started off by sharing tips and tricks on how to go about the production courses.. He delved deeper into these courses and made sure to instill the importance of investing [...]

The UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) held an Orientation and Re-orientation program for the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) students at the UPOU Headquarters on 11 May 2018. The activity meant to familiarize students with the practices, policies, faculty, and curriculum of the BAMS program. Dr. Alexander G. Flor, FICS Dean, welcomed the participants with an overview of the BAMS program - how it began and where it is going. He recalled when BAMS was being conceptualized a decade ago, the intention was to create a well-rounded multimedia program firmly differentiated from [...]

The Accounting Office under the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) organized the "Seminar on Revenue Regulations pertinent to Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law" on 10 May 2018 at the Audio-visual Room, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. This seminar was primarily held for the UPOU employees, and extended to the general public to further enlighten them on pertinent provisions of RR-8-2018 and RR-11-2018 of the TRAIN Law. The seminar was streamed live via networks.upou.edu.ph. Dr. Jean A. Saludadez, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration, [...]

Dr. Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and President of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), attended the second meeting of the AAOU Accreditation Task Force in Tangerang, Indonesia on 04 to 05 May 2018. The meeting was hosted by Universitas Terbuka, whose Rector, Prof. Drs. Ojat Darojat, is a member of the Task Force, along with Prof. Shin Kisugi, President of the Open University of Japan; Prof. Dr. Samuel Anbahan Ariadurai, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka; Dr. Li Kam-Cheong, University Research Center Director of the Open University [...]

University of the Philippines Professor Emeritus and UP Open University Former Chancellor, Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, was awarded the Excellence in Communication Award at the "Constructing Gender in Multimedia Context: Conference on Gender and the Media." The awarding ceremony was held on 30 April 2018 at the Bulwagang Balagtas, Ninoy Aquino Learning Center, Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila. The conference, organized by the Philippines Communication Society (PCS), is an annual event that brings together media and communications professionals and practitioners. The PCS also bestows the Excellence in Communication Award to stalwarts in the field of communication [...]