Open Up! UP Open University (UPOU), You Have Had Your Doors & Windows Half-Opened To The World Since You Were Born!

Its campus next to IRRI in Los Baños, the UP Open University (UPOU) celebrated its 28^th Anniversary, Thursday, 23 Feb 2023, and I, a self-taught writer and digital denizen since 1991 and UP Los Baños alumnus (1965), neither knew nor had an idea! And you know what? My daughter Teresa Leonor studied there many years ago – she was already a BS Com Sci graduate of UP Los Baños – but she quit when strict physical attendance of classes was required of her and she was (still is) a Project Manager of Unisys in the Philippines. Today, more than before, I believe the UPOU should be completely, 100% digital!

Above, Jovita Movillon’s sharing on Facebook, Friday, 24 Feb 2023, is accompanied with this text:

LOOK: The UP Open University (UPOU) is celebrating its 28th Anniversary at the UPOU Headquarters, Los Banos, Laguña, with the theme “University of the Future: Reimaginations, Reconfigurations, Realizations.”

My Editor In Chief’s eyes instantly saw that one: “Los Banos, Laguña” – the first time that strange creature appeared since I was Freshman 1^st Sem 1959 at the UP College of Agriculture with campus in the town of Los Baños in Laguna.

The error of their ways. Not only that. I am looking at the Facebook page of UP Open University (UPOU), and I am reading the announcement last year:

UP Open University (UPOU) is celebrating its 27th Anniversary on 23 February 2022, with the theme University of the Future: Reimaginations, Reconfigurations, Realizations.

Established on 23 February 1995, UPOU pioneered online teaching and learning and continues to play a leading role in the study and practice of open learning and distance education in the Philippines.

Did you notice – the UPOU repeats its 2022 celebration theme this year, 2023, word for word – at 28, forgetful already?! At 82, I don’t mind if they get me to be their online Editor In Chief!

I am digitally self-taught from typing to editing desktop publishing up to creating the pdf, which is the electronic file that goes into printing the distribution copies.

Like, I am challenging the UPOU to reimagine itself, reconfigure itself – and come out with correspondence courses (plural, in case you did not notice) built on Regenerative Agriculture, because that is The Call of the Hour. (See my essay, “After Heading IRRI Pushing “Green Revolution” For Asians, MS Swaminathan Intellectualized “Evergreen Revolution” For All!” (24 Feb. 2023, THiNK Journalism, ithinkjournalism.blogspot.com). Humans, unless we regenerate the Earth, especially in our farms, there is no future for us humans!

And how will the UPOU finance those innumerable courses, short and long, degree or non-degree, for people anywhere? The UPOU could apply for educational loans and/or subsidy from the mother agency, the UP System, and/or submit a budget for an original program to the Asian Development Bank, USAID, or World Bank, for such purposes.

I am volunteering right now to be part of the digital committee to generate, package, review and finalize such a huge institutional plan, literally a million-dollar proposal!@517