The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) recently organized a Roundtable Discussion (RTD) through its Master of International Health (MIH) program for the Lifestyle Disease Management Microcredentials. Held at the Audio Visual Room at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Banos, Laguna, on 26 March 2025, the RTD aimed to gather insights and stakeholder perspectives on developing microcredential courses focused on lifestyle disease management.
These courses—Foundations of Lifestyle Diseases Management, Lifestyle Interventions in Disease Management, and Patient-Centered Care and Holistic Approach—are part of the MicroCASA project, which seeks to enhance education in technology and health. The event featured a presentation by Dr. Myra Oruga, Program Chair of the Diploma in and Master of International Health (D/MIH) program. It was attended by experts and professionals in public health and health financing from Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and the Department of Health (DOH).
With the rising burden of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions, the RTD provided a platform for discussing key competencies, best practices, and challenges in delivering microcredential programs. Participants explored strategies to improve accessibility, learner engagement, and course scalability while fostering partnerships between academia and healthcare providers.
The insights from the RTD will inform the design and implementation of these microcredential courses, ensuring they effectively equip learners with the knowledge and skills needed for managing and preventing lifestyle-related conditions in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well Being) and 4 (Quality Education).
Written by Janele Ann Belegal ♦ Edited by Larry N. Cruz
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