Celebrities study on-line

MANILA, Philippines – Sharon Cuneta, Sarah Geronimo, Kristine Hermosa, Jackie Lou Blanco-Dabao and several others.

Aside from being movie stars and celebrities, what do they have in common?

They are students in an innovative institution of higher learning that does not require enrollees to be in the classroom every day.

For a time now, they have been enrolled at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) in Los Baños, Laguna.

UPOU is one of the seven constituent universities of the UP System. It was established in 1995 to enable the country’s premier tertiary institution “to respond to the growing demands for quality graduate and undergraduate education even in areas that do not have a UP campus.”

UPOU’s Faculty of Education offers one doctoral (PhD) program, two Master of Arts (MA) programs, four post-baccalaureate diploma programs, and one undergraduate program (Associate in Arts or AA).

The PhD program is in Education, with areas of specialization in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics Education.

The MA programs are in Language Studies and Social Studies.

The diploma programs are in science and mathematics teaching, language studies for teachers, and social studies education.

UPOU also offers certificate programs like Professional Teaching Certification and nonformal courses like New Enterprise Planning and Personal Entrepreneurial Development. 

The AA program is a 60-unit, undergraduate-level liberal arts program. It qualifies individuals to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in the sciences or the arts.

AA aims to broaden the student’s intellectual and cultural horizons; foster a commitment of nationalism balanced by a science of internationalism; cultivate a capacity for independent, critical, and creative thinking; and infuse a passion for learning. It provides a generalist type of basic tertiary education that will also develop competencies in communication and computer use.

Except for laboratory and internship courses and some PhD courses, all UPOU courses and programs are delivered by distance education (DE) mode.

DE is characterized by the physical separation of teachers and students. Distance learners are unable to attend regular face-to-face classes because of geographic location, professional commitments, and family obligations.

DE students, therefore, study on their own most of the time. They are given learning packages in various media, including print, audio, video, and interactive CD-ROM specially designed by subject matter experts, instructional designers and editors, and media specialists.

DE’s vital component is the tutorial or study sessions in which students interact with their instructors or tutors, and their classmates.

There are three types of tutorials: on-line, face-to-face (once a month at UPOU learning centers, usually in other state colleges and universities in various parts of the country), and through telephone.

Student performance is assessed through written assignments and proctored or supervised examinations taken at the UPOU learning centers.

Most of the stars enrolled at UPOU are pursuing the AA program. They include Sharon, Sarah, Kristine, Jackie Lou, Rachelle Ann Go, Oyo Boy Sotto, Chynna Ortaleza, Jaycee Rivera, and Anton dela Paz.

Today, UPOU’s graduation day, one of those who will receive their AA is Richard Gomez. Also candidates for graduation are Miss Earth Philippines Catherine Untalan (Diploma in Environmental and Natural Resources Management or DENRM), detainee soldier (“Magdalo“) Andy Torrato (Diploma in Computer Science), and political detainee Ed Serrano (Diploma in ENRM).

Among those who have completed their studies at the UPOU are Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay (Diploma in ENRM) and Magdalo detainees Armand Pontejos, Jonel Sanggalang, and Art Pascua.

Currently enrolled are Sen. Miguel Zubiri (also a UP Los Baños graduate), Diploma in ENRM; and The  Philippine STAR columnist Joanne Zapanta-Andrada and actress Cheska Laurel-Tiu, both Master of Development Communication.

The UP Open University has produced 2,899 graduates.

In recognition of its achievements, UPOU has been declared as National Center of Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The Commission on Information and Communication Technology (CICT) has also designated UPOU as the national e-learning competency center.