University of the Philippines Open University

University of the Philippines Open University
Motto Honor and Excellence
Type Distance learning institution
Established February 23, 1995
Chancellor Dr. Melinda dP. Bandelaria
President Alfredo E. Pascual
Academic staff
 203 (2013)[1]
Students 2,568 (2013)[1]
Undergraduates 512 (2013)[1]
Postgraduates 2,056 (2013)[1]
Location Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
Hymn "U.P. Naming Mahal" ("U.P. Beloved")
Colors UP Maroon and UP Forest Green
Nickname Fighting Maroons
Affiliations ICDE, AAOU, PSDL
Website upou.edu.ph

The University of the Philippines Open University (also referred to as UPOU, UP Open University, or UP OpenU) is a public research university and distance learning institution headquartered in the town of Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines. It was established on February 23, 1995 as the fifth constituent university of the University of the Philippines System. Its mandate is to provide education opportunities to individuals aspiring for higher education and improved qualifications but were unable to take advantage of traditional modes of education because of personal and professional obligations. It is recognized as the country's top open and distance learning institution by virtue of Republic Act No. 10650, also known as the Open and Distance Learning Act of 2014

UP OpenU provides quality higher and continuing education to Filipinos through the distance education system. Its mission is to give its students formal qualification, as well as to develop in them the discipline and capability to become lifelong learners who are at home in today's knowledge society.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has declared the UP OpenU as the National Center of Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education in recognition of its achievements in this field and its vital role in pushing the frontiers of learning in service to the Filipino nation.

The U.P. Open University aims to:

Mode of Teaching & Learning

The U.P. Open University delivers its programs and courses through distance education (DE). In this mode, teachers and learners are separated by time and space. Learners study in an independent self-learning style using specially designed learning materials and resources. Teaching and learning is mediated through the use of technology like print, audio, video, and the internet. Students interact with their instructors and each other through virtual classrooms, email, and web conferencing. Almost all UPOU courses are offered through online learning mode, making them accessible to learners from different parts of the country and the world.

Faculties of Studies

UP OpenU has three faculties of studies, each headed by a dean:

Faculty of Education (FEd)

The Faculty of Education (FEd) covers the following range of areas of study: general education, alternative education, language and literacy education, science and mathematics teaching, social studies education, and distance education.

Faculty of Information & Communication Studies (FICS)

FICS offers degree programs in communication, information systems, computer science, and multimedia studies.

Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS)

FMDS offers a range of postgraduate programs in R&D management, environment and natural resources management, land valuation and management, public management, social work, nursing, hospital administration, and public health as well as non-formal programs in entrepreneurship, health, and land valuation.

Academic Programs

The U.P. Open University offers the following degree programs:

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Certificate Program

Post-Baccalaureate Diploma Programs

Master's Programs

Doctoral Programs

Non-formal Courses

The U.P. Open University offers several non-formal courses and certificate programs. These are:

U.P. Open University Headquarters

The U.P. Open University Headquarters is located in Los Baños, Laguna, close to the International Rice Research Institute. Set against the picturesque view of Mount Makiling, its main administrative and annex buildings house the main offices,including the Office of the Chancellor (OC), the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA), the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA), and the Faculties of Studies Offices. The Center Center for Digital Learning (CCDL) Auditorium is also in this complex.

A major landmark in the UPOU Headquarters is the U.P. Open University Oblation sculpture that stands in the Oblation Plaza in front of the main building. It is a replica of National Artist Guillermo Tolentino's U.P. Oblation, which depicts a man facing upward with arms outstretched, symbolizing selfless offering of oneself to the country. UPOU’s Oblation stands on a pedestal with a ribbon-like flag swirling around the pedestal and the Oblation. This gives an effect of the flag lifting the Oblation into greater heights and gives it the boundless reach that is symbolic of UPOU's prime objective of widening access to UP quality education. It was designed and executed by University Artist and UPOU Chancellor Dr. Grace J. Alfonso in 2005. The UPOU Oblation statue also provides a stately background to the Oblation Plaza where the annual commencement exercises are held.

The University also maintains a satellite office at the National Computer Center Building in Diliman, Quezon City.

Learning Centers

The U.P. Open University has several Learning Centers in strategic locations in the country. These Centers are the venues where students can conduct and seek advice on the following transactions, activities and procedures:

Learning Centers are mostly located in other U.P. campuses and state universities in selected regions of the country.

To serve the student support needs of offshore students, the University has created the Virtual Learning Center, where all transactions and procedures are conducted and communicated online.

Contact information and announcements of each learning center such as schedule of exams are posted in their respective sites.

Research

U.P. Open University conducts research in distance education (DE) and the disciplines it currently offers.

The University has spearheaded research in open and distance learning in the country. Its research in this area has delved into the following topics: DE learner profile, learning styles, and learner performance; online teaching and learning; virtual learning environments; computer-mediated collaborative learning; gender and distance education; pedagogical approaches in distance education; DE program evaluation; and management of DE.

In addition, the University has also pursued research in the following discipline-based areas: education, information and communication technology, multimedia, communication, organization and management, public policy, environment, health, and development studies. Many of these discipline-based studies have been externally funded.

Notable alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "U.P. Statistics 2013" (PDF). University of the Philippines. University of the Philippines system. 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2015.

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