A new undergraduate degree program in Digital Design and Arts is now offered by the UP Open University (UPOU).  The Associate of Arts in Digital Design and Arts (AADDA) offers aspiring creatives an opportunity to explore and express their artistry through digital media, unleash their creativity for a career in design, think like an artist, be agile like a designer, and be confident like an entrepreneur.  The AADDA is a two-year undergraduate program, delivered online, allowing students to learn at their own convenience, and providing flexibility to study while balancing other commitments. It is also a flexible route for [...]

To kick off the celebration of the 28th founding anniversary of the University Philippines Open University, with the theme University of the Future: Reimaginations, Reconfigurations, Realizations, a one-week mini-exhibition by FICS-run BUKAS Lab will be held from 02 March to 08 March 2023 at the Oblation Hall, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. The exhibition, called Wearable Futures, has two major components and will present the following: Undergraduate student outputs from the Wearable Futures Hackathon: a 12-week-long hybrid learning experience collaboratively created with and for undergraduate students at UPOU and explores wearable technology, e-textiles, speculative design, and futures thinking. The [...]

On the 2nd of March 2023, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) will celebrate its 28th Founding Anniversary at its Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna. While UPOU has chosen to hold a simple celebration, no feat of the university is too small to celebrate. It is the first physical anniversary celebration after the pandemic and the first to celebrate with the new UP President, Hon. Angelo A. Jimenez. The day will start will the opening of the 28th Anniversary Exhibit, which will feature outputs of the Emerging Futurists-in-Residence Program and the Wearable Futures Hackathon course, which will [...]

On 21 February 2023, Dr. Primo Garcia, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, and Dr. Ria Mae Borromeo, Director of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), held a dialogue with the University Student Council (USC). There was a thorough discussion of USC Memorandum #003, #004, and #005, which addressed issues with the Civil Service Commission's (CSC) recognition, the recognition of student organizations, and the late submission of grades. During the dialogue, the USC voiced its full support for the present Committee for Accrediting Student Organization (CASO) Guidelines and requested the UPOU Chancellor's Advisory Council (CAC) to approve them as soon [...]

Dr. Melinda dela Peña Bandalaria, UP Open University (UPOU) Chancellor and Professor, led the university delegation at the MoodleMoot in Japan as a keynote speaker.  The event was held at the Ibaraki Christian University, on 15-17 February 2023.  Titled “The Future Collaboration of Asian Open Universities and Moodle LMS Open Development,” Dr. Bandalaria's presentation discussed the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) and how the Moodle Project is a critical collaboration for mega-universities with student populations in the millions across the most populated nations globally. Dr. Bandalaria’s presentation summarized a recent survey of needs for the Moodle Learning Management System [...]

UP Open University (UPOU) welcomes visitors from Bulacan State University (BulSU) for a benchmarking activity on 8 February 2023.  The BulSU team consisted of Dr. Ruben E. Borja II, Director of Educational Development Office; Dr.. Remedios O. Azacon, Asst. Director of Educational Development Office; Dr. Joseline M. Santos, Asst. Director for Teaching and Learning Technologies; Mr. Alfredo P. Carpio Jr., Curriculum Specialist; Ms. Princess Gerbie Durante, Specialist for Learning and Materials Development; and Ms. Leonora F. de Jesus, Head of Instruction Design. The faculty of the BulSU benchmarked how UPOU implements open and distance learning, assessment for online/flexible teaching [...]

The Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) held its first quarter MeetUps of 2023 on February 17, 2023 via Zoom. Eleven administrative staff, research assistants and REPS attended the event that aimed to serve as a space for knowledge and skills sharing, as well as a platform for “kumustahan” among colleagues. FICS MeetUPs is a quarterly activity aimed to empower the staff through knowledge-sharing and skills development.  Junior Research Associates Patricia Calora and Maine Basan, and University Extension Associate Yrelle Lleva served as the resource speakers for the MeetUPs this quarter. They discussed “Event Planning and Coordination: Continuity [...]