The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU),  through the Wellness and Healthy Lifestyle Committee, organized its first-ever onsite flu vaccination event to recognize the importance of being protected from influenza (flu) viruses. This was held on 28 July 2023 at the CCDL Auditorium, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna.  Thirty-three (33) faculty and staff members, along with their family members, availed of the service. The World Health Organization (WHO) described influenza, also referred to as the flu, as an infectious respiratory disease brought by influenza viruses.  Its distinctive symptoms are the sudden start of a fever, sore throat, runny [...]

Second benchmarking meeting of UPOU Library led by Jennifer Belen-Bunao (Consultant for Library Services) with CLSU Library Head Nuelah Reyes and other library staff and IT personnel of both universities. The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Library recently held another benchmarking meeting with the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) Library last 24 July 2023. Participating from CLSU Library were Ms. Nuelah Reyes, Ms. Camia Lasig, Ms. Vanessa Morales, Ms. Roselyn Madia, Ms. Richie Garabiles, and Mr. Ian Panahon. CLSU Library expressed a keen interest in further exploring UPOU's best practices for developing and managing institutional [...]

The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the UP Open University (UPOU), in partnership with the Edu-Connect Southeast Asia Association – Taiwan launched the Project LAKBAY: Learning Actively through Knowledge-Based Appreciation for Youth, a Youth Cultural and Learning Immersion Camp. The Project LAKBAY was a hybrid event, with the first part conducted online through the UPOU Canvas from 28 to 30 June 2023, and the immersion camp facilitated in person from 4 to 14 July 2023 at UPOU Headquarters, Los Banos, Laguna. The Project LAKBAY was participated in by a total of 36 LAKBAY fellows – 24 Taiwanese [...]

University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) Dean Dr. Joane Serrano, hosted a meeting with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), spearheaded by Maritime Education and Training Standards Supervisor,  Ms. Presca Lee Lugo on 25 July 2023, at the Sandbox, Centennial Center for Digital Learning Building, UP Open University. The meeting laid the foundation for a comprehensive capacity-building program that will equip MARINA evaluators with the necessary knowledge and skills to assess the quality and effectiveness of distance learning programs offered by Maritime Training Institutions (MTIs) in the Philippines.  The partnership between UPOU [...]

UP Open University hosted representatives from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) on 28 July 2023 at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. The TESDA team, led by Ms. Redilyn C. Agub, Division Chief of eTESDA, benchmarked UPOU’s best practices regarding the development and implementation of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). They also discussed the issues and challenges in MOOCs' implementation, licensing of Open Educational Resources (OERs), and educational media production. The discussion was led by Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, UP Open University Chancellor, Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Dean of the Faculty of Management and Development [...]

Amidst excitement and anticipation, the UP Open University (UPOU) brazenly forays into a new era of student journalism with the culmination of the Digital Media Lab (DML) last 15 July 2023 at the Student Union Building in UP Diliman. DML is a project led by the UPOU University Student Council (USC). Digital Media Lab Closing Program. Image by Adrian Zapico & Russell Fernandez DML breathes life into the university’s decades-long journey of establishing a student publication. This is led by the USC’s Treasurer and Head of the Committee of Finance, Madellaine Ortea,  in collaboration with the UP [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) will launch the Roadmap for UPOU Microcredentials during the Opening Program of the UPOU-organized Tri-conference 2023 on 22 August 2023, at 9:00 AM. This will be held at the UPOU Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium at its Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, and online.  With the increasing demand for specialized competencies in today's job market, individuals are actively seeking short courses and certifications to acquire specific skills and knowledge that can advance their careers. Embracing this global trend, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) envisions itself as [...]

The 5th International Conference on Open and Distance eLearning (ICODeL 2023) will feature the facets of Micro-credentialing in a special Pre-Conference Session titled “Opportunities of Micro-credentials in Higher Institutions.” This will happen on 21 August 2023, Monday, 1:00 -5:00 PM at the UPOU Centennial Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines.  What are micro-credentials, and how do micro-credentials affect the education landscape? These are only some of the questions that will be answered during this pre-conference, which is open now for registration but only for a limited number of participants.  The pre-conference is a half-day event [...]

The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS), UP Open University organized the 3rd Monthly Activity of the MindsMatter@FMDS program titled “Thrive Together” on 18 July 2023 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, UP Open University, Los Baños, Laguna.  This event served as a platform to foster a positive and harmonious environment that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit of the FMDS Faculty and Staff. Eurythmy: A Mindfulness-Oriented Movement Therapy During the first part of the event, FMDS faculty and staff were introduced to Eurythmy, a mindfulness-oriented movement therapy that traces its roots back to Rudolf Steiner’s Anthroposophic Medicine (AM) introduced in 1912. [...]

The University of the Philippines National Engineering Center (UP NEC) visited UP Open University (UPOU) for a benchmark meeting on 20 July 2023 at the UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños Laguna. The primary objective of this meeting was to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration regarding open and distance eLearning practices. The discussions focused on online learning methodologies, Learning Management System (LMS) administration, online learning design and delivery, learner engagement strategies and technologies, assessment and evaluation methods, and potential areas for partnership. Dr. Reinald Adrian dL. Pugoy, the Director of UPOU's Information and Communication Technology Development [...]