| University of the Philippines Open University |
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| Unibersidad ng Pilipinas Bukás na Unibersidad |
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| Motto | Honor and Excellence |
| Established | 1908 (system) 1995 (campus) |
| Type | Distance Learning Institution National, Research University |
| Chancellor | Grace J. Alfonso, PhD |
| President | Alfredo E. Pascual, MBA |
| Location | Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines |
| Hymn | U.P. Naming Mahal (U.P. Beloved) |
| Nickname | Fighting Maroons |
| Mascot | U.P. Oblation |
| Affiliations | ICDE, AAOU, PSDL |
| Website | www.upou.edu.ph |
The University of the Philippines Open University (U.P.O.U.) is a public distance learning institution and research university headquartered at Los Baños, Laguna. 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.
U.P.O.U. 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 U.P.O.U. 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:
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U.P.O.U. 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 U.P.O.U. courses are offered through online learning mode, making them accessible to learners from different parts of the country and the world.
U.P.O.U. has three faculties of studies (or colleges), each headed by a dean:
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.
FICS offers degree programs in communication, information systems, computer science, and multimedia studies.
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.
The U.P. Open University offers the following degree programs:
The U.P.O.U. offers several non-formal courses and certificate programs. These are:
The U.P.O.U. 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 U.P.O.U. Headquarters is the U.P.O.U. Oblation sculpture that stands in the Oblation Plaza in front of the main building. It is basically 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.
The U.P.O.U. 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.
U.P.O.U. 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 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.
| Preceded by Mindanao |
University of the Philippines campuses by foundation February 23, 1995 (7th) |
Succeeded by — |
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