Research

Following an exploratory meeting held on 08 April 2025 between the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and Samahan ng Industriya ng Paggugulayan (SIPAG) ng Pagsanjan, the involved committee, such as FMDS Sustainable Livelihoods Innovation and Digitally-transformed Enterprise (SLIDE) and SIPAG Pagsanjan representatives, set an introductory meeting with the interested community partners on 30 April 2025 at the UPOU Oblation Hall, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. This meeting is intended to define the purpose of the upcoming OUgnayan (Open University na Gumagabay at Nagbubuklod sa PamaYANan) Wednesdays, under the OUgnayan, a flagship program that strengthens the university’s public service and community engagement initiatives. OUgnayan Wednesdays, in collaboration with SIPAG Pagsanjan, [...]

(L-R) Asst. Prof. Remsce Pasahol; Asst. Prof. Luisa A. Gelisan; Assoc. Prof. Diego Maranan; UPOU Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Jean Saludadez; UPOU Chancellor Joane Serrano; UPOU Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Aurora Lacaste; Assoc. Prof. Roberto Figueroa; Asst. Prof. Margaret Jarmin-Suarez The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) took part in the Open University 5 (OU5) Research Cycle 2026 held on 23-24 April 2025 in Penang, Malaysia. The bi-annual OU5 Research Conference fosters collaborative research among five open universities in Asia: the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) [...]

The Immersive Spatial Technologies and Realities (ISTaR) Labs of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), led by Dean Roberto B. Figueroa Jr., is hosting a series of Blender software workshops facilitated by Lab Prefect John Orbe. Held every Tuesday, these sessions offer a flexible learning format, with lab members able to join virtually or on-site. As an introductory course, the program features guided instruction and hands-on exercises tailored for beginners to provide the team with a strong foundation in 3D design. The workshop is designed as a collective mentorship to enable students, artists, and researchers to share their approaches in [...]

On Monday, 31 March 2025, 18 Grade 4 to 6 students from Gateway Integrated Christian Academy, Inc. visited the Open Studio at Galeria Sinag to learn about the work of Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Artist-in-Residence, Carlo Dimaano. A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate at UP Diliman, Mr. Dimaano has been in residence at the University of the Philippines Open University since February to work on his thesis. Upon arrival at Galeria Sinag, the teachers and young learners were given a brief overview of the UP Open University and the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) [...]

Members of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) welcomed Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa Jr. as the incumbent dean in a turnover ceremony on 2 April 2025. The event began with a warm welcome message from outgoing Dean, Dr. Diego S. Maranan, recognizing the hard work of the faculty and staff during his tenure. This was followed by a heartfelt tribute to FICS Professor Melinda D.P. Bandalaria for her nine years of service as Chancellor of the university. Former Dean Maranan, along with Assoc. Prof. Ria Mae H. Borromeo, [...]

The Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) kicked off its first quarterly MeetUPs for 2025 with a session on “Short-Form Videos for Development,” held on March 25 at the Sandbox, UPOU Headquarters, and via Zoom. Serving as the resource speaker was Ms. Maria Andrea Bodaño, FICS Project Staff and Research Associate, who shared insights on producing compelling short-form videos for development. The event was attended by FICS administrative staff, REPS and faculty members in a hybrid setup. Ms. Bodaño opened the session with a creative icebreaker featuring popular reels, [...]

The University of the Philippines Board of Regents (BOR) has appointed Dr. Roberto Figueroa, Jr. as the new Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at UP Open University (UPOU) during its 1397th meeting on 27 February 2025. His term will commence on 1 April 2025, succeeding Dr. Diego Maranan. Dean Figueroa brings extensive experience in both academic and administrative leadership. He previously served as Program Director of the Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP) research program and Deputy Director for Open and Digital Learning Research (ODLR) at the Center for Open and Distance Teaching and Learning (CODTL), [...]