University of the Philippines Open University Chancellor, Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, was at the 2nd International Conference on Digital Business, Society and Economy (ICDBSE 2024) held at the Sukhothai Thammatirat Open University in Nonthaburi, Thailand held on 13-14 November 2024.
Chancellor Bandalaria was part of the Special Session titled “Joint Forces for Impactful Advocacy – the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Global Advocacy Campaign (GAC) in Asia.” She spoke with Torunn Gjelsvik, Secretary General of the ICDE, Prof. Dr. Ahmed Izanee Awang, President/ Vice-Chancellor of Open University Malaysia (OUM), and Dr. John Cribbin, Deputy Director (Academic Services) of the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE) in this session.
In her presentation, Dr. Bandalaria addressed the questions “Why did you sign up to advocate for Open and Flexible Distance Learning (OFDL)?” and “What are the main challenges for inclusive education?” In answer to the questions, she shared the mandate of UPOU which is aligned with the advocacy for OFDL, the context of the Philippines as one of the most disaster-prone countries that would benefit so much from OFDL, and the context of education in the Philippines which has low tertiary education enrollment numbers.
Other speakers also shared their responses to the general question in the context of their own countries and organizations. After the presentation was a forum where ICDBSE 2024 participants could clarify some of the points and details. The session ended with awarding tokens of appreciation to the speakers and a customary photo with the conference organizer.
Aside from the Special Session dedicated to the ICDE GAC on OFDL, Dr. Bandalaria also facilitated the ICDE GAC Asia Working Group Meeting, as the co-chair of the ICDE-GAC-OFDL Task Force Asia with the Asia eUniversity of Malaysia. The meeting was participated in by all members of the five Working Groups of the ICDE GAC Task Force Asia. Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, Director of the UPOU Office of Public Affairs, and Dr. Reinald Adrian D. Pugoy, Director of the UPOU ICT Development Office, joined Chancellor Bandalaria in this Working Group Meeting.
Dr. Bandalaria also facilitated the ICDE GAC Asia Working Group Meeting. (Photo from STOU)
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Edited by Dr. Myra C. Almmodiel ♦ Photos from STOU
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