The University of the Philippines Open University extends its warmest congratulations to Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, Chancellor of UPOU, for being conferred the title of UP Scientist III for the term 2023-2025.
Dr. Bandalaria is a Professor at the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), where she teaches courses in the Master of Development Communication and Doctor of Communication programs. In addition to her expertise in communication, she is a recognized authority in open and distance education (ODeL), having published extensively in academic journals and contributed to books on these topics. Her work spans not only the Philippines but also the ASEAN and Asian regions, as well as global contexts.
Her dedication to ODeL has earned her recognition both nationally and internationally. Dr. Bandalaria has held key roles in various global educational organizations, including serving on the Executive Committee of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) and the ICDE OER Advisory Committee (OERAC). She is also an appointed ambassador of Open Educational Resources for ICDE.
Currently, Dr. Bandalaria represents the Philippines on the Governing Board of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC)from 2022 to 2025. Additionally, she chairs the Asian MOOCs Steering Committee and serves as the President of the Consortium for Open and Distance Education in the Philippines (CODEPP).
Dr. Bandalaria holds a PhD in Development Communication from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and earned her Graduate Certificate in Distance Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, USA.
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas• Edited by Myra C. Almodiel
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