The 36th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU 2023) culminated with great success in Istanbul, Türkiye, from September 28 to 30, 2023. This remarkable event saw notable participation from faculty members and staff of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU). The conference, themed “The Future of Open Universities in the Age of Digitalized Higher Education,” brought together educators, administrators, and researchers to discuss the evolving landscape of open education in the digital era.
AAOU 2023 served as a platform to examine the role of open universities in the context of digitalized higher education. Engaging discussions encompassed various sub-themes, including the re-evaluation of open universities’ functions, the transformative impact of the COVID-19 era on open and distance learning practices, effective management of ODL institutions, innovative delivery methods, online assessment and evaluation techniques, emerging pedagogical approaches, learner support systems, and strategies to enhance access and elevate the quality of open and distance learning.
UPOU Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, took the stage as a prominent speaker in the panel session titled “Empowering Open Universities in the Digital Era: Insights from Women Leaders.” She shared the platform with distinguished figures such as Prof. Asha Kanwar, President & CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, and Prof. Ir. Tian Belawati, former Rector of Universitas Terbuka Indonesia. Meanwhile, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Deputy Director, UPOU Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning, served as one of the discussants on the Panel “Artificial Intelligence in Open Distance eLearning,” which was moderated by Dr. Banaldaria.
Several UPOU faculty members and staff also made their mark at the conference, presenting the following insightful research papers:
- LEARNING IN THE AGE OF DISCORD: HOW A GAMING CHAT APP IS CHANGING THE WAY WE LEARN by Asst. Prof. Gabriel Avelino Sampedro and Ms. Ana Bernadette Mercado
- INNOVATING THESIS STUDENT RESEARCH PRESENTATION: VIDEOCONFERENCING AS AN ALTERNATIVE MODE by Ms. Dona Lyn M. Piamonte and Dr. Jean A. Saludadez
- A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF UP OPEN UNIVERSITY LEARNING PLATFORMS’ USABILITY STATUS AND INNOVATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE by Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy
- MANAGEMENT OF AN ODL INSTITUTION: THE CASE OF THE UP OPEN UNIVERSITY by Mr. Michael P. Lagaya and Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria
- LEARNER SUPPORT IN THE AGE OF DIGITALIZED HIGHER EDUCATION: THE CASE OF THE ASEAN STUDIES PROGRAM by Dr. Jean Saludadez and Ms. Dona Lyn Piamonte
- IBOOK PLUS: AN INTERACTIVE BOOK-BASED APPROACH IN OPEN AND DISTANCE E-LEARNING by Assoc. Prof. Roberto Bacani Figueroa, Jr.
- THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES OPEN UNIVERSITY (UPOU) IN DELIVERING ONLINE CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR PUBLIC SERVANTS by Asst. Prof. Juvy Lizette Gervacio
Asst. Prof. Figueroa Jr. received the Silver Medal for the Best Practice Award, acknowledging his innovative contributions to the field of open education.
Additionally, Dr. Jean Saludadez and Reinald Adrian Pugoy served as the Adjudication Committee Chair for the Best Paper Award and Adjudication Committee Member for the Young Innovator Award, respectively. Their roles as adjudicators underscored their expertise and dedication to the advancement of open education.
The participation and recognition of UPOU faculty and staff at AAOU 2023 reaffirm their commitment to pushing the boundaries of open education and adapting to the changing landscape of higher learning in the digital age. Their research and contributions continue to have a significant impact on the future of open universities and digitalized higher education.
Written by Donalyn Piamonte • Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas
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