For the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), public service is not just an additional function but a meaningful function that cuts across its teaching and research functions. This is in line with the responsibility of giving back meaningful service to the nation and to the world which remains deeply embedded at the core of the University’s mission. To be more specific, UPOU’s public service initiatives focus on six agendas: (1) Teacher Development, (2) Capacity Building, (3) Culture and Arts, (4) Community Health (5) Community Development, (6) Environmental Management, and (7) Technical Development. As a guide to the effectiveness of these seven aspects and result in social transformation, UPOU follows the ODeL worldview, as seen below.
In line with the Teacher Development agenda, Open Education Week 2021 was held last 1 to 5 March 2021. To celebrate, UPOU lined up activities such as OPEN Talk, the new magazine program that was launched last 3 March 2021. OPEN Talk is broadcasted real-time over the UPOU Networks website and UPOU Networks Facebook page every other Wednesday at 6-7 PM. Another activity that was highlighted during the Open Education Week 2021 was the promotion of the availability of the Open Educational Resources (OER) available via the UPOU Networks as well. Both programs and activities are free of charge for the public viewership.
As for the Environmental Management agenda of the Public Service Initiative, a UPOU initiative was a public webinar held on 7 April 2021 at 9:30 a.m. (PST). The webinar tackled “Climate Solutions: The Philippine Context,” under the global project called Solve Climate By 2030, sponsored by Bard College in New York.
The University of the Philippines (UP) through the UPOU also took part in the grand event entitled Earth Day 2021 Virtual Stage and Festival. This event initiated the start of Earth Week 2021, which is celebrated annually — every 22 April of each year. Dr. Alexander G. Flor, Dean of the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) and environmental communication expert, represented UPOU. Dr. Flor shared ideas and thoughts on the perspective of the climate communication science community.
Other activities that you may look into include, but not limited to, UPOU-Kaagapay+ sa Pag-aaral ng mga Iskolar ng Bayan program launched by the University of the Philippines (UP). Kaagapay sa Pag-aaral ng Iskolar ng Bayan or #KaagapayUP is a fundraising and resource generation campaign to equip financially-challenged students with computers or laptops and internet connectivity to help them continue their studies during the Covid19 Pandemic. With this, UPOU takes part in this program and hopes for cooperation from our Kaagapay to help and assist the UPOU students who are in need.
You can either donate pre-owned or brand new laptops and computers, or give monetary gifts in cash, check or electronic funds through over-the-counter or digital transactions using our secure payment gateways via http://kaagapay.up.edu.ph.
The above mentioned activities are just some of the initiatives of UPOU’s Public Service. There are more activities that you may look forward to. For more information about UPOU and its public service initiatives, you may check out the following links:
UPOU Website https://www.upou.edu.ph/public-service/
UPOU Facebook https://www.facebook.com/UPOpenUniversity
UP System Events Calendar: https://alum.up.edu.ph/ecwd_calendar/calendar/
(This article was first published in the UPOU Website on June 20, 2021)