QUEZON CITY (PIA) — The Polytechnic University of the Philippines hosted the 39th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities from Oct. 22 to 24 at the Heritage Hotel, marking the first time the university served as host of the international gathering.
Organized through the PUP Open University System, the conference convened more than 200 university administrators, researchers and educators across Asia and North America under the theme “Responding to Global Challenges Towards a Resilient and Future-Ready Open and Distance Education.”
PUP President Manuel M. Muhi underscored that the impact of open learning transcends technological platforms, emphasizing the university’s human-centered mission.
“Let us remember that the true measure of an open university is not how advanced its technology is,” Muhi said. “The true measure is how many lives it is able to transform. That is the spirit that we are bringing to this conference.”
Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, who addressed delegates during the conference, highlighted the expanding mandate of flexible learning modalities during emergencies and for non-traditional students.
“Open and distance education now has a much larger role in helping educational systems respond to disruption,” Acidre said. “Open and distance learning begins with the recognition that people should have opportunities to learn regardless of where they live and the responsibilities they carry.”
Addressing the plenary on digital resilience and systemic adaptation, Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Vice President for Research, Innovation, Information Technology, and International Affairs Songlak Sakulwichitsintu noted that institutions must prepare for compound crises.
“Technology, changing learners, and unexpected shocks—these three forces often come together,” Sakulwichitsintu said. “An effective response, therefore, cannot depend on one application or one department. It requires the capacity of the whole institution to adjust repeatedly and responsibly.”
A major milestone of the three-day assembly was the formal renewal of a Memorandum of Understanding between PUP and STOU. The agreement extends an academic partnership established in 2015 during the PUPOUS silver anniversary, ensuring continued collaboration in joint research, faculty exchanges, and the annual PUP-STOU Joint Multidisciplinary Research Colloquium.
Delegates representing open universities across 16 countries also tackled digital inclusion strategies, generative artificial intelligence in instructional design, and micro-credentialing frameworks.
University officials said hosting the 39th AAOU Conference advances PUP’s strategic roadmap toward becoming a leading comprehensive polytechnic university in Asia, utilizing open and distance e-learning to democratize higher education across geographical boundaries. (JLN/PIA-NCR)
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