The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) participated in the Open University 5 (OU5) Research Forum and Meeting held from 24-26 April 2024, in the city of Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
Gathered in the elegant setting of the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta, representatives consisting of university administrators and researchers from five open universities convened for research project presentations and presidents’ meetings. Among them were delegates from Universitas Terbuka (UT), Open University Malaysia (OUM), Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU), University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), and Hanoi Open University (HOU).
The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks from all OU5 presidents: Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., Rector (UT); Prof. Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, President (OUM); Asst. Prof. Dr. Phanompatt Smitananda, Acting President (STOU); Prof. Dr. Melinda dP. Bandalaria, Chancellor (UPOU); and Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, Chairwoman of Board of the Regent (represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhung, President) (HOU). The presidents then exchanged gifts as a symbol of their mutual respect and goodwill.
The main event on the first day of the meeting was the parallel session featuring the 2024 Research Project Progress Presentation and the Presidents’ meeting. During this session, five research groups presented their projects for 2024, focusing on themes such as education, sustainable industrialization, and mental health. The presentations were as follows:
- Inclusive Education: Providing Quality Education for All (Group 1)
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Digital Education (Group 2)
- Promoting Sustainable Industrialization (SDG 9) in the ASEAN Region: This presentation covered smart manufacturing, employability and decent work, and green growth as key agenda items (Group 3).
- Counseling Services at OU5 to Promote Good Mental Health in ASEAN (Group 4)
- Preserving ASEAN Culture in the Digital Age (Group 5)
Each presentation offered valuable insights and proposed innovative solutions to address the respective challenges within these themes, highlighting the collaborative efforts and forward-thinking approaches of the research groups.
While the research projects were presented, a presidents’ session was being held in a separate board room. The discussion focused on the progress of 2024 research projects; updates on University of the Future (UoF) project, and benchmarking status; AAOU Quality Assurance Framework, and ICDE Global Advocacy Campaign Asia; nomination of project leaders for 2025 research projects; setting of a common repository site for OU5 outputs and documents; microcredentials; schedule of next OU5 meeting; and other matters.
The 2024 Research Project Meeting, the presentation of the report on the President’s Meeting, and the announcement of the next OU5 meeting were held on the second day. With closing remarks, Professor Darojat of UT brought the event to a close.
UP Open University (UPOU), through its initiative OU5, is committed to conducting more research projects and related activities aimed at fostering a more prosperous, inclusive, and diverse society within the ASEAN region. These efforts are designed to benefit local communities and, over time, extend their positive impact globally. By focusing on innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity, UPOU aims to contribute significantly to the region’s development and its standing on the world stage.
Written by Alexil Cheska T. Fajardo ♦ Edited by Margaret Jarmin-Suarez and Yasele Irene Angela Yambao
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