The three former chancellors of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) shared their perspectives on the development of open and distance eLearning (ODeL) in the Philippines in a special session of the recently held 5th National Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (NCODeL). ) Dr. Melinda dela Pena Bandalaria, current Chancellor of UPOU, moderated the special session held on 22 November 22 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.
Dr. Ma. Cristina D. Padolina, Chancellor of UPOU from 1995 to 2001, admitted that establishing UPOU was not that easy. “The apprehensions have a lot to do with the quality of distance education at that time,” she recalled. “Twenty years ago we did not have the Internet.” Because of the lack of technology at that time, Dr. Padolina recalled that they also started with face to face tutorials in the different learning centers established all over the country. They commissioned writers to create modules for the curriculum.
Dr. Felix Librero, UPOU Chancellor from 2001 to 2007, recounted the struggles of establishing open and distance learning in the Philippines. “It is difficult to migrate from teacher-controlled education to a learner-controlled one.” Dr. Librero also identified that the reluctance of Higher Education Institution (HEI) administrators and the technological gaps between generations added to the problems in developing Open and Distance eLearning (ODeL) in the Philippines.
“We have to OU-fy the process,” stated Dr. Grace Javier Alfonso, Chancellor of UPOU from 2007 to 2016, referring to the process of development of the open and distance education in the country. Dr. Alfonso acknowledged that all the other Chancellors, including Dr. Bandalaria, were all there from the start.
“I have reaped all the fruits that the previous Chancellors had planted,” said Dr. Bandalaria, claiming to be the luckiest Chancellor because in her time, ODeL is already established and is continuing to grow and spreading across the country.
Despite all the struggles that the four chancellors have experienced and is currently experiencing while improving the status of ODeL in the country, Dr. Bandalaria concluded the special session in her very confident words:
“We’re there. UPOU is already there.” (Maine Basan, FICS)
