The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) conducted an orientation on the Adopt-A-Plot Program and Alitaptap Community Currency (CC) on 02 February 2024, at the Teaching and Learning Hub (TLH) Building. FMDS Dean, Dr. Joane Serrano, spearheaded the program by introducing these two on-going projects and highlighting its importance by comprehensively discussing necessary terms and concepts which participants could truly appreciate. UPOU faculty and staff from various offices physically and virtually attended the program. She also introduced Ms. Raizza Anna Alforja, an FMDS research assistant, and Dr. Ferdinand Maquito, assistant professor [...]

In line with the on-going project of Adopt-A-Plot program, the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) held an orientation for the employees of its partner government institution, the Provincial Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of Laguna, on 30 January 2024 at the Teaching and Learning Hub (TLH) Conference Room and FMDS Perma G.A.R.D.E.N. (Growing Appreciation towards Resilience, Development, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition). The said orientation was part of the initial steps of joining the program through reserving a plot and attending a face-to-face orientation. Adopt-A-Plot Program is under the Sustainability in Action [...]

As part of the 2023 program goals of FMDS Perma G.A.R.D.E.N (Growing Appreciation toward Resilience, Development, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition), the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) starts accommodating students working with their research experimentations. The pilot undergraduate thesis study was started last 22 January 2024 by setting up the feeding platforms together with bird feeds, as a material to be used for observational study and serves as the feeding area for the birds where competitive interactions will be observed and monitored by a camera trap. Mr. Nathaniel Mirandilla, an undergraduate student [...]

(from left to right) FMDS Dean Serrano, Ms. Mary Grace Campollo, and Dr. Wong planting one out of the five atis seedlings during the commemorative planting ceremony In partnership with the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association Kaohsiung, the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) launched the International University of Social Responsibility (IUSR) collaborative program, through a commemorative tree planting initiative on 20 January 2024 at the FMDS Perma G.A.R.D.E.N (Growing Appreciation towards Resilience, Development, Entrepreneurship, and Nutrition) UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. This historic event of planting [...]

The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) compiled a dataset of 200 plant species and 22 observed bird species as of 18 January 2024 and 20 October 2023, respectively. Identified species in the FMDS Permaculture G.A.R.D.E.N. Source: https://angusmaps.my.canva.site/upou-perma-garden-map Based on the conducted 3-day field inventory of plant species on 16-18 January 2024, a total of 183 plant species were identified and 17 unidentified plant species. These were co-initiated by Dr. Jabez Joshua Flores, permaculture expert and designer, and Ms. Maryjane Reondanga, the Perma G.A.R.D.E.N. caretaker. Meanwhile, the baselining of avifaunal [...]

In alignment with advocacy for sustainable policies and practices to establish a model sustainability campus, the Campus Development and Maintenance Office (CDMO) of UP Open University (UPOU) engaged in collaborative efforts with the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) on 12 February 2024. The seminar, titled ‘Collaborative Project on Waste Management and Food Servicing,’ addressed various challenges concerning waste collection and solid waste management systems. Solid Waste Management or SWM constitutes a pivotal element of the SiALLC (Sustainability in Action – A Living Laboratory Campus) initiative at UPOU, wherein FMDS spearheads its operational implementation both within and beyond [...]