Prof. Patricia Brazil Arinto has been elected as the new University of the Philippines (UP) Faculty Regent (FR) starting January 2017 to December 2018, to succeed Regent Philip Ian Prieto Padilla, MD, PhD. Her plans of action include specific proposals for faculty development and welfare, inter-campus faculty collaboration and proactive faculty participation in University governance. Prof. Arinto has been with UP for 27 years. She served as the Dean of the UP Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Education (FEd) but her second term was cut short seven months to completion when she resigned from her post following her FR nomination. [...]

The UP Open University (UPOU) and the Philippine Long Distance Telephone, Co. (PLDT) signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Phase 4 of the Infoteach Outreach Program on 29 November 2016 at PLDT Innotech Lab, Mandaluyong City. This partnership between UPOU and PLDT aims to promote digital literacy among public high school school teachers and students. The PLDT Infoteach Outreach Program started in 2013 with an initial participants of 1,657 from 11 schools divisions. To date, it has trained a total of 793 Master Trainers and Trainers and 11,696 teachers and students from public high schools. For the [...]

The UP Open University (UPOU) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) Committee organized two fora this December 2016 to advance UPOU's level of readiness in earthquake disaster and information risk at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The first forum about Earthquake Disaster Preparedness and Management was held on 06 December 2016. Mr. Daniel Jose Buhay, Science Research Specialist from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), was the resource person. Mr. Buhay discussed in detail the importance of readiness during earthquakes. He explained how earthquakes happen and what causes the tremors, especially in the Philippines. He also [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) is one of the partner universities of the second ASEAN University Conference on Public Relations and Communication (APRC2016). The conference, hosted by the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia Student Association in collaboration with Students Development and Alumni (SDA) Office, Universiti Utara Malaysia, provided a platform for students, academics, and practitioners to discuss issues and share experiences related to the practice and application of public relations and to foster networking. "One Vision, One Identity, One Community: Fostering Public Relations Network for ASEAN Communities" served as the theme of the conference that was held [...]

Raymond D. Basilio, the first graduate of the UP Open University (UPOU) Bachelor of Education Studies (BES) program successfully passed the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) for the Secondary Level held on 25 September 2016. Mr. Basilio belonged to the first batch of students admitted in the BES program under the Alternative Education Systems track in the first trimester AY 2012-2013. He graduated from the program on 30 July 2016. The BES program is one of the three undergraduate programs of the UP Open University with specializations in Alternative Education Systems (AES) and in Instructional Design and Technology (IDT). [...]

The Faculty of Management and Development Studies of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU-FMDS) recognized its course completers and top learners in the Continuing Education Program (CEP) Closing Ceremonies held on 03 December 2016 at the Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.A total of 151 from 11 courses have complied with all the requirements for completion. Seventy-three learners received certificates for having completed their courses with distinction and high distinction. Asst. Prof. Rita C. Ramos, FMDS Secretary to the Faculty, facilitated the awarding of the certificates of completion/recognition. [...]

The University of the Philippines (UP) formally introduced TVUP, the UP-owned and operated internet television network during its Public Launch on 24 November 2016 at the UP Executive House in Diliman, Quezon City.

UP Open University (UPOU) faculty member and Director of the UPOU Office of Gender Concerns, Asst. Prof. Finaflor F. Taylan, won the Best Paper Award under the University and Civil Society Category of the 3rd AsiaEngage Regional Conference held on 20-23 November 2016 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City, Metro Manila.

Two University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) staff received Best Presenter Awards - Lecturer Category in the ASEAN University Conference on Public Relations and Communication (APRC 2016). They were Ms. Anna Ma. Elizabeth F. Cañas-Llamas, Information Officer, UPOU Information Office; and Ms. Jeniffer de Passion, University Extension Associate, Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS). Ms. Cañas-Llamas presented the research paper "Communicating with Prospective Students: Public Relations Media and Strategies of a University Information Office." She discussed the different media that the UPOU Information Office utilized to communicate with its public, especially with the prospective students of the university. [...]