SDG4

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 [...]

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 [...]

(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 [...]

Members of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) welcomed Dr. Roberto B. Figueroa Jr. as the incumbent dean in a turnover ceremony on 2 April 2025. The event began with a warm welcome message from outgoing Dean, Dr. Diego S. Maranan, recognizing the hard work of the faculty and staff during his tenure. This was followed by a heartfelt tribute to FICS Professor Melinda D.P. Bandalaria for her nine years of service as Chancellor of the university. Former Dean Maranan, along with Assoc. Prof. Ria Mae H. Borromeo, [...]

The Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) kicked off its first quarterly MeetUPs for 2025 with a session on “Short-Form Videos for Development,” held on March 25 at the Sandbox, UPOU Headquarters, and via Zoom. Serving as the resource speaker was Ms. Maria Andrea Bodaño, FICS Project Staff and Research Associate, who shared insights on producing compelling short-form videos for development. The event was attended by FICS administrative staff, REPS and faculty members in a hybrid setup. Ms. Bodaño opened the session with a creative icebreaker featuring popular reels, setting [...]

The University of the Philippines Board of Regents (BOR) has appointed Dr. Roberto Figueroa, Jr. as the new Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS) at UP Open University (UPOU) during its 1397th meeting on 27 February 2025. His term will commence on 1 April 2025, succeeding Dr. Diego Maranan. Dean Figueroa brings extensive experience in both academic and administrative leadership. He previously served as Program Director of the Immersive Open Pedagogies (IOP) research program and Deputy Director for Open and Digital Learning Research (ODLR) at the Center for Open and Distance Teaching and Learning (CODTL), UPOU. [...]