Flagship Program 4: Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL)

ODeL sets sail in UP, bridging global distances

Written by Precioso Mamatan Dahe Jr.

Since its beginnings, ODeL has been aiming to navigate the virtual seas worldwide.听

ODeL, or open distance and e-learning, has emerged as a potent equalizer and a transformative solution to the problem of providing all Filipinos access and opportunity to quality education. Through ODeL, the 天美视频 (UP) can showcase its commitment to fostering a culture of lifelong learning and excellence, contributing to the advancement of sustainable development goals on a global scale.

*A faculty member of the university conducts her class online in the midst of the pandemic. UP MPRO file photo.*

History of open and distance learning

While the term 鈥渆-learning鈥� was coined in 1999 by educational technology expert Elliott Masie, open and distance learning (ODL) has been around for much longer, with some form of it going back to the early 20th century and evolving alongside the technology. On February 23, 1995, the UP Open University (UPOU) was established as the country鈥檚 pioneer in online teaching and learning and as the leader in open learning and distance education in the country.

As UP Professor Emeritus and former UPOU Chancellor Felix Librero wrote in his , the UPOU was established to address the 鈥減erennial challenge of providing quality higher education to a growing population.鈥� Moreover, the UPOU, through distance education, could allow the University to 鈥溾€榬espond to growing demand for quality graduate and undergraduate education鈥� even in areas that are traditionally underserved by the tertiary education sector.鈥�

Over the years, this vision for the UPOU has come true, and ODL鈥攏ow ODeL as technology made quantum leaps in development鈥攈as demonstrated the ability to swiftly and purposefully mobilize social responsiveness to uplift individuals from the confines of geographic limitations and to mitigate academic setbacks caused by uncontrollable factors. The marginalization of certain groups creates greater disparities in access to opportunities, but ODeL has been found to be a powerful equalizer in addressing these issues by facilitating educational access and outreach.

With such a history behind it, what are the new developments in ODeL and the UPOU?

UPOU reaches out to OFWs through VINTA听

March 22, 2024, saw a significant development in the field of borderless education with the maiden launch of the , with a on May 18 and the Program鈥檚 diplomatic introductions held in the .听

The UP VINTA Project, which stands for Ventures for International and Transformative Academia, aims to facilitate seamless cross-border educational opportunities and promote global collaboration. As one of the UP System鈥檚 key projects under its Flagship Program on 鈥淥DeL for National and Global Reach,鈥� the UP VINTA Project underscores the University鈥檚 commitment to transnational and global education through strategic partnerships and cultural exchanges.听

Aimed at Filipino learners abroad, as well as those residing within the Philippines, the UP VINTA Program opens new avenues of education through the UPOU鈥檚 microcredentialing programs. The UP VINTA is anchored on the principles of inclusivity, quality instruction, innovation, and public service, and prioritizes engagement with stakeholders across, initially, the aforementioned seven countries, thereby fostering global academic standards and collaborative knowledge creation. As each country鈥檚 OFWs work in unique labor environments and sociocultural realities, the UP VINTA comes with it a more focused framework for accessing these OFWs unique demands and requirements, enabling the Program to tailor the microcredentialing programs UPOU will offer to the OFWS according to their needs.听

鈥淲e are hoping that we can have more courses and more of this microcredentialing [in] response to the immediate needs of the industries. We are also intensifying the reach of UPOU courses to OFWs,鈥� UPOU Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria shared during an

*UP Open University Chancellor Melinda Bandalaria talks about the UPOU’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) with the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). Photo from UPOU.*

The VINTA DNA of quality instruction

鈥淲e have two full baccalaureate programs now, a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies and a Bachelor of Education Studies,鈥� Bandalaria said in the same interview. 鈥淚n addition, we have five Associate Programs that can also lead to a full Baccalaureate program. There should be no reason anyone who is working cannot get a full Bachelor’s degree.鈥澨�

There is also UPOU鈥檚 Massive Open Online Courses or MOOCs. In the span of over 10 years, UPOU has developed and offered about 100 MOOCs and has reached more than 230,000 learners. MOOCs have been the mechanism anchored on the open learning philosophy to facilitate access and inclusion to the learning opportunity.听

Starting 2024, UPOU鈥檚 array of MOOCs will take on a new configuration. The MOOCs will be integrated into UPOU’s microcredentialing program. As such, they will be developed in partnership with the major industries in the country to ensure the alignment of the learning outcomes with the competencies identified as priorities by these industries. Moreover, new courses or degree programs will be introduced that align with emerging industries and the global job market’s demands. The MOOCs will take the form of microcourses or microcredentials, which can be stacked towards a macrocredential.

Additionally, access to UP’s extensive digital library and online support services further enriches the learning experience for UPOU鈥檚 ODeL students. Additionally, UP has implemented improved support systems for students, including more comprehensive online resources, virtual counseling, and academic advising services.听

鈥淢any academic institutions, also see it as another business model for sustainability in which they can be more agile and more flexible for whatever disruptions even after the pandemic,鈥� Bandalaria said. 鈥淎nd the thing is, we have typhoons, floods, and these natural calamities that disrupt the learning process.鈥澨�

Openness, inclusion, access, and life-long learning

The ODeL programs at UPOU utilize a blend of online resources, multimedia content, and interactive online platforms to deliver course materials and foster a virtual learning environment. The courses offered through the ODeL platform cover a wide spectacle of interest from different fields of discipline and can benefit from this learning mode.

To strengthen ODeL鈥檚 impact, UPOU鈥檚 microcredentialing initiative aims to offer short and focused courses that will immediately provide learners with the competencies required by the major industries. The microcredentials can be combined or stacked towards a macrocredential, which can be a required course in a degree program or a certification addressing a specific learning outcome. Access and inclusion to microcredentialing opportunities can be facilitated by offering the microcourses as MOOCs.

鈥淩ight now, what we are integrating into that MOOCs framework is the microcredentialing鈥攖hat each course that you will take will have an equivalent credit, which can be stackable towards a micro-certification, a micro-diploma, or a full masters鈥� degree but you can stack these credits into a macro-certification. 鈥溙�

This means that time constraints due to work are not an issue. With microcredentialing, you have enough time to enroll at the most convenient and efficient time for you.听

鈥淲e are advocating for openness, inclusion, access, and life-long learning for all as our UN Sustainable Development Goal number four,鈥� said Bandalaria. 鈥淲herever you are in the world, you can enroll.鈥� 听