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University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Chancellor Dr. Joane V. Serrano and Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Dean Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa Jr. explored opportunities for collaboration on online and immersive learning during their courtesy call to Dr. Peter Arnade, Dean of the College of Arts, Languages & Letters (CALL) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UH Mānoa), last August 4, 2026. The meeting, which was also joined by Dr. Pia Arboleda, a faculty member from CALL and Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), served as a prelude to UPOU’s participation in the [...]

Asst. Prof. Mary Kristene D. Clariño joins fellow judges during the JLfest 2026 deliberation meeting. (Photo courtesy of Asst. Prof. Clariño) University of the Philippines Open University's Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) faculty member Asst. Prof. Mary Kristene D. Clariño joined the international panel of judges for the SUGOROKU Language eBoard Game Design competition during the 19th Annual International Japanese Language Festival (JLfest 2026), held virtually on 25 July 2026.  The SUGOROKU Language eBoard Game Design Competition was one of the 17 contests featured at JLfest 2026, inviting participants to develop interactive e-board games that promote Japanese language [...]

Participants and organizers gather for a virtual group photo during the First Installment of the Hiraya Lecture Series. (Photo on the left courtesy of AFSJ). The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), in partnership with the Association of Filipino Scholars in Japan (AFSJ), launched the Hiraya Lecture Series on 24 July 2026, bringing together over 100 scholars, practitioners, and leaders to commemorate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan and strengthen academic and cultural collaboration between the two countries. Held virtually via Zoom, the inaugural installment carried the [...]

The University of the Philippines Open University’s (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) featured internationally renowned organizational communication scholar Dr. François Cooren of the Universitè de Montréal, widely recognized as one of the world's foremost experts on the Communicative Constitution of Organization (CCO), at a hybrid colloquium titled, “Foundations, Ferment, and New Frontiers of CCO: Widening the Conversation,”  held from July 15-17, 2026, held at the UPOU, Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines and via Zoom. The three-day event brought together scholars, faculty, researchers, alumni, and students to explore the CCO perspective. Organized by the Decentered Human Communication (DHC) Research [...]

We would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant when receiving messages through Google Chat or other online messaging platforms. We have been informed that an individual is impersonating UPOU FICS Dean Roberto B. Figueroa Jr. and sending messages requesting money or financial assistance. Please be advised that these messages are not legitimate. To help protect yourself and others, please observe the following: Verify unexpected requests for money or financial assistance through official UPOU communication channels before responding. Before clicking any links or sending money, take a moment to confirm the request with the purported sender through an independent channel [...]

Assistant Professor Raz dela Torre (second from right) addresses aspiring filmmakers and participants during the Isabela Film Academy 2026. (Photo courtesy of Isabela Tourism Office) More than 100 aspiring filmmakers from across Isabela honed their storytelling and filmmaking skills under the guidance of industry professionals, including a University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Assistant Professor Raz dela Torre, who served as a masterclass mentor and speaker during the Isabela Film Academy 2026 held from July 16 to 18, 2026 at the Isabela State University (ISU) Climate Change Center in Echague, Isabela. Organized [...]

FICS Dean Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa, Jr. (fourth from left) joins UPOU and UP Cebu students as they conclude the 13-week virtual exchange program with the presentation of their Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) application proposals.   Innovative language-learning technologies developed through international collaboration took center stage as students from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), UP Cebu, and the University of Tokyo presented their Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) application proposals during the culmination of a 13-week virtual exchange program. The presentations were held on July 8 and 15, 2026, in a hybrid format at the Immersive Science Communication [...]

Professor Diego Maranan (far right) during the Closing Program and Awarding Ceremonies at the 11th APTJSO. (Photo courtesy of DOST Philippines) Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Professor Diego S. Maranan served as a judge in the Resilience Reels Video Competition during the 11th ASEAN+3 Junior Science Odyssey (APTJSO) held from 5 to 11 July 2026 at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFEZ), Pampanga. Hosted by the Philippine Science High School System (PSHSS), the annual event brought together gifted young scientists aged 13 to 15 from ASEAN Member States, China, Japan, and South Korea under the theme, [...]