Page 169 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 149

UPOU and PUP-OU became the model in higher education institutions are now offered
the offering of DE programs for the other by UPOU due to further identification of
academic institutions in the country. Before the gaps in the responses being made by
the COVID-19 pandemic, there were several academic institutions to the learning needs
academic institutions also known to offer of the various professionals, especially
academic programs in the DE mode of in consideration of the rapidly changing
instruction. Most were established from knowledge and skill requirements of the
2010 and included among others Central major industries. Due to UPOU’s standing, the
Luzon State University, Bicol University, John majority of the degree programs it offered in
B. Lacson Maritime University, Benguet State the early years were post-baccalaureate or
University, New Era University, Asian Institute graduate degree programs. Only a few years
for DE Foundation, and CAP College. after it was founded did it start to provide
an undergraduate program, the Associate in
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Arts, and promote it as a “Second Chance” to
Planning and development of DE varies earn an undergraduate degree. Most of the
across institutions offering programs in this program’s participants were adult learners,
mode of instruction. For UPOU, the planning many of whom were already employed.
and development took into account the
mandate of the University of the Philippines The planning and development of UPOU
as the only national university in the country can be considered to be influenced by the
and as such dictated the kind of academic dominant Information and Communication
programs that will be offered. In addition, Technologies which can be used to bridge the
the specific mandate of UPOU, which is to physical distance between the students and
be at the forefront of using modern and their teachers, and the other elements that
relevant Information and Communications are essential to studying and successfully
Technologies (ICTs) to democratize access to completing courses and programs. These
quality education also guided the planning can be seen in the ways that course packages
and development processes. have changed over time, as well as in how
tutorial sessions and other learner support
During the early years of UPOU, the programs services have been offered to students.
provided by UPOU were mirror programs of The institution and program planning of
those in the university’s residential Constituent UPOU heavily considered the integration of
Units (UP). This was the first articulation to radio, television, audio cassette tapes, and
democratize access to high-quality degree CD-ROMs into the architecture of course
programs by making residential programs delivery.
available in the DE mode of instruction to a
wider variety of students, especially those Two significant events, the establishment
from locations not geographically serviced of two full bachelor’s programs and the
by residential campuses. Other degree incorporation of contemporary ICTs into
programs that are not offered by other its ecosystem, can be seen as having had

University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)