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Students from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) gathered on 8 May 2025–both onsite at the Multimedia Center Theater, UPOU-DICT Building, Diliman, Quezon City, and online via Zoom, to celebrate the Metaverse Festival—a two-day event that showcased student-led virtual cultural exhibits in an immersive digital environment. Hosted by FICS Dean Roberto B. Figueroa Jr. with the assistance of Assistant Professor Margaret J. Suarez, the festival was organized by students of MMS 198 to serve as a dynamic platform to present their projects hosted in Frame VR, a web-based virtual space. These exhibits were shared with fellow students [...]

Headed by Dean Roberto B. Figueroa Jr., the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) held its first alignment meeting on 5 May 2025 at the Academic Residences, UPOU Headquarters, Los Baños, Laguna. This meeting forms part of UPOU’s Strategic Planning Workshop, which supports the university’s vision of becoming a “Transformative University of the Future.” The initial phase of the planning process focused on assessing current activities and future plans at the unit level to establish a clear baseline for strategic directions. The session began with a review and discussion of the 10 Flagship Programs (FPs) outlined in the [...]

In Photo: Dr. Diego S. Maranan and Dr. Ria Mae H. Borromeo (center), Associate Professors of the Faculty of Information and Communications Studies, UP Open University, together with (from left to right) Dr. Miguel Francisco M. Remolona – Director of the Interactive Learning Center, UP Diliman; Dr. Maria Vanessa P. Lusung-Oyzon, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, UPD; Dr. Ivy DC. Suan, Director of the Office for the Advancement of Teaching (OAT); and Ms. Kristina V. Dizon-Dela Cruz also from the OAT.Dr. Diego S. Maranan and Dr. Ria Mae H. Borromeo, both associate professors at the University of the Philippines Open [...]

Asst. Prof. Katrina Joy Abriol-Santos (center in light pants) with the PSBR Team from UPLB (photo by UPLB Institute of Animal Science) Asst. Prof. Katrina Joy Abriol-Santos of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) continues to demonstrate the impact of ICT in agriculture and public service through her role as Web Application Development Consultant in a DOST-PCAARRD-funded project titled “Operationalization of the Swine Breed Registry System in the Philippines.” The project, implemented by the Institute of Animal Science (IAS) at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) led by Dr. Elpidio M. Agbisit, Jr., in partnership with [...]

Dr. Reinald Pugoy and Dr. Ria Mae Borromeo, faculty members of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), actively participated in the "Gen AI at Work APAC 2025" event hosted by Google Workspace. Held at the Google Manila Office on 23 April 2025, this event showcased the transformative capabilities of Gemini with Google Workspace, emphasizing the future of AI-powered collaboration in professional settings. ​ The event featured immersive experiences such as the 'Prompt Challenge', Gemini-powered Photo Booth, and 'NotebookLM Studio', allowing attendees to interact firsthand with cutting-edge AI tools [...]

(In photo L-R) Dr. Francis Raymond Calbay, Dr. Evelyn Perez, and Mr. Lee Troy Calimlim at the QRM Conference. Two graduates of the Doctor of Communication (DComm) program—Dr. Francis Raymond Calbay and Dr. Evelyn Perez—and one graduate of the Master of Development Communication (MDC) program—Mr. Lee Troy Calimlim—presented their graduate research at the 2025 Qualitative Research in Management and Organization (QRM) Conference. The conference took place from 15-17 April 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA. All three researchers were mentored and co-authored by Dr. Jean Saludadez, Professor and Chair of the DComm Program at the Faculty of Information and Communication [...]

The Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) participated in the 2025 Strategic Planning Workshop organized by the Quality Assurance Office (QAO) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) on 22–23 April 2025. The hybrid event was held at the Oblation Hall, UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna, and via Zoom. Dr. Emely Amoloza, FICS Quality Assurance Officer, and Ms. Maria Paula Bautista, FICS Quality Assurance Staff, represented FICS. The two-day activity brought together quality assurance officers and staff from various academic and administrative units to collaboratively shape the direction of the university’s quality assurance efforts for the [...]

The World Immersive Learning Labs Symposium (WILLS) 2025, held from 13-15 April at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies (KUFS) in Kyoto, Japan, brought together educators, researchers, and innovators from around the world to explore the evolving landscape of immersive learning technologies. From virtual and augmented reality to AI-driven learning environments, the symposium highlighted recent developments in educational innovation. Co-organized by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), WILLS 2025 featured keynotes, technical talks, and hands-on experiences demonstrating how immersive learning can engage, educate, and inspire. The event kicked off with a tour of Kyoto's historic Arashiyama district and a [...]

The Immersive Spatial Technologies and Realities (ISTaR) Labs of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), led by Dean Roberto B. Figueroa Jr., is hosting a series of Blender software workshops facilitated by Lab Prefect John Orbe. Held every Tuesday, these sessions offer a flexible learning format, with lab members able to join virtually or on-site. As an introductory course, the program features guided instruction and hands-on exercises tailored for beginners to provide the team with a strong foundation in 3D design. The workshop is designed as a collective mentorship to enable students, artists, and researchers to share their [...]

On Monday, 31 March 2025, 18 Grade 4 to 6 students from Gateway Integrated Christian Academy, Inc. visited the Open Studio at Galeria Sinag to learn about the work of Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) Artist-in-Residence, Carlo Dimaano. A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) candidate at UP Diliman, Mr. Dimaano has been in residence at the University of the Philippines Open University since February to work on his thesis. Upon arrival at Galeria Sinag, the teachers and young learners were given a brief overview of the UP Open University and the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies [...]