The Director of Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP) Program, Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa Jr., embarked on significant visits to universities in the United Kingdom from the 7th to the 19th of June, 2023, aiming to establish potential collaborative projects with key individuals in the field.  At the beginning of his trip, he visited Dr. Mona Nasser, who was recently appointed as the Director at the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research (PIHR), where he participated in a focus group meeting on the use of robots to interact with patients. The demonstrated robot, named “Q”, offers significant advantages by assisting with [...]

On 19 July 2023, UP Open University (UPOU) conducted a benchmark meeting, welcoming the delegation from Silliman Online University Learning (SOUL) at the UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. The benchmark presentation was led by Dr. Myra C. Almodiel, Director of the Office of Public Affairs (OPA). Following the presentation was a Q&A forum with Dr. Almodiel, Dr. Ricardo T. Bagarinao, Director of the Center for Open and Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL), and Asst. Professor Mari Anjeli Crisanto, Director, Quality Assurance Office (QAO).  Several significant topics were discussed throughout the meeting, including UPOU's practices in open and distance eLearning, [...]

In an effort to assist in barangay transformation and digitalization of employment servicing, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) conducted an exploratory meeting with the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) Laguna and Concentrix Philippines on 11 July 2023 at the UPOU Sandbox, Los Baños, Laguna. The meeting resulted in the possible creation of a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the parties and stakeholders involved which will develop micro-credential courses that can be tied up to the  Provincial of Laguna Employment Information System (PLEIS) managed by  PESO Laguna.  This will [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) held a closing ceremony of the Knowledge Management for Development (KM4D) Mentorship Program on 14 July 2023 at the UPOU Audiovisual Room, Los Baños, Laguna. The KM4D Mentorship Program, a first of its kind, was a product of collaboration between the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), UPOU FMDS and UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS). It pilot tested a micro-credentialing system wherein apart from the KM4D mentorship sessions, the mentees participated in the COMM 350: Information and [...]

The Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN) commenced its Blended Program Workshop on July 11, 2023. Unlike traditional workshops, which take place on consecutive days and in the same location, the Workshop activities will take place on different days and times in July 2023, with synchronous (online and face-to-face) and asynchronous tasks, demonstrating the flexible nature of online distance platforms. The MAN Workshop 2023 intends to address Microcredentials, Sustainable Development Goals, and Gender Issues in the program. The workshop will also provide updates on the MAN Curriculum, the current status of students, collaborative projects with Universitas Padjadjaran, and hospital [...]

The Emerging Inter-disciplinary Research (EIDR) Related Learning Experience (RLE) team recently presented their research titled “Issues, Innovations, and Challenges: Simulation Technologies in Related Learning Experiences”at the 2023 International Conference on Open and Innovative Education (ICOIE), held at Hong Kong Metropolitan University from 04 to 06 July 2023. Assistant Professor Rita C. Ramos, Mr. Ronaldo de Jesus, Ms. Alaine Richelle Ramos and Mr. Bernard Paolo Secreto, members of the (Information Technology) IT team, were present at the conference. The second session of parallel paper presentations focused primarily on educational technology. Six presentations highlighting various innovations for learning were presented during [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), led by Chancellor Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, joined this year’s MoodleMoot Philippines at the Century Park Hotel, Manila on 5-7 July 2023. Along with Dr. Bandalaria were members of the Information and Communication Technology Development Office (ICTDO): Dr. Reinald Adrian D. Pugoy, ICTDO Director; Mr. Eriberto E. Roxas Jr., Senior Systems Administrator; Mr. Melvir Nathaniel S. Paras, Junior ICT Associate; Mr. Renz Jemil G. Magsino, Junior ICT Associate; and Mr. Dan Zakai Pulmano, Helpdesk Associate. Dr. Reinald Adrian D. Pugoy delivered his talk, “Navigating the Pre- and Post-AI Landscape: Insights into the Needs [...]

Expert and Advocate in Open, Flexible, Online Distance Learning (OFDL) to Speak on Quality Assurance at ICODeL 2023 The International Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (ICODeL) 2023 will feature Professor Dr. Ebba Ossiannilsson, independent researcher, consultant, expert, influencer, and quality assessor in the field of open, flexible, online, and distance learning (OFDL). She is a Board Member of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) and Chair of the ICDE OER Advocacy Committee. Dr. Ossiannilsson will speak for the third Plenary Session of ICODeL 2023, focusing on  Quality Assurance.  Dr. Ossiannilsson is a Professor [...]