FICS Faculty Members Recognized in International Academic Conferences
Faculty members from the University of the Philippines Open University’s Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) received distinctions for their research at two international academic gatherings held in October 2025.
Awards at the 38th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU)
UPOU Chancellor Dr. Joane Serrano (in striped dress) proudly poses with the awardees of the Best Paper and Young Innovator Awards and selected UPOU faculty and staff on stage at the 38th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) in Beijing, China. From left, Mr. Renz Jemil Magsino, Mr. Adriane Jennel Alarcon, Mr. Michael Lagaya; Chancellor Serrano, Asst. Prof. Shaira Tanay (Silver Medal, Young Innovator Award), Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy (Gold Medal, Best Paper Award); Asst. Prof. Mary Kristene Clariño (Silver Medal, Young Innovator Award), Asst. Prof. Katrina Joy Abriol-Santos, former Chancellor Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, and Vice Chancellor Dr. Jean Saludadez.
At the 38th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) held in Beijing, China, on 20-23 October 2025, Dr. Reinald Adrian Pugoy received the Gold Medal in the Best Paper Award category. Asst. Prof. Mary Kristene Clariño and Asst. Prof. Shaira Tanay were each conferred Silver Medals under the AAOU Young Innovator Award.
The conference, organized by the Open University of China, brought together academics and practitioners working in the field of open and distance education across Asia. The AAOU awards are given annually to recognize outstanding scholarly work contributing to the development and innovation of open, distance, and online learning.
UPOU Chancellor Dr. Joane Serrano, former Chancellor Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, and Vice Chancellor Dr. Jean Saludadez also attended the event, together with Mr. Renz Jemil Magsino and Mr. Adriane Jennel Alarcon of the UPOU Information and Communication Technology Development Office (ICTDO); Mr. Michael Lagaya, Chief Administrative Officer; and Asst. Prof. Katrina Joy Abriol-Santos, who likewise presented a research paper.
Faculty members from the Faculty of Education (FEd) and the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) also participated in the conference.
Recognition at the 8th International Conference on Gender and Sexuality
Dr. Benigno Agapito, Jr. receives the award for Overall Best Presentation at the 8th International Conference on Gender and Sexuality in Bangkok, Thailand.
At the 8th International Conference on Gender and Sexuality, held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 21-22 October 2025, Dr. Benigno Agapito, Jr. received the Overall Best Presentation Award, the highest distinction conferred by the conference organizers. The event, convened by the International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), gathered researchers and practitioners from multiple disciplines to discuss current issues and emerging perspectives in gender and sexuality studies.
These recognitions demonstrate the active participation of FICS faculty members in international academic networks and their contribution to advancing research in open and distance learning, communication, and related fields. Through continued engagement in such forums, FICS seeks to promote scholarly exchange, contribute to evidence-based practices, and foster research collaborations across institutions and disciplines.