Advancing Inclusive and Transformative Education for All

UP Produces Graduates Qualified to Teach at the Primary Level

The University of the Philippines (UP) contributes to the advancement of Sustainable Development Goal 4, particularly Target 4.C, which seeks to substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers worldwide by 2030. Through its diverse academic programs and commitment to professional development, UP continues to produce graduates equipped with the competencies and credentials necessary for primary-level teaching.

This indicator measures the proportion of graduates who obtain qualifications enabling them to teach at the primary level, including those who earn postgraduate teaching credentials. It reflects how higher education institutions like UP support the sustainability and quality of national education systems by cultivating competent educators capable of shaping foundational learning.

For the 2024 reporting period, several UP constituent universities produced graduates with relevant teaching qualifications. UP Los Baños reported 43 out of 2,315 graduates (1.8%), while the UP Open University, recognized for its emphasis on flexible and distance education for teachers, recorded 115 out of 572 graduates (20.1%). UP Visayas contributed 30 out of 722 graduates (4.1%) qualified to teach at the primary level.

These data highlight UP’s enduring role in strengthening the country’s pool of qualified educators and its alignment with global education goals. By equipping future teachers with the skills and pedagogical grounding required for effective instruction, the university advances the broader vision of inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education for all.

The University of the Philippines (UP) adopts a holistic approach to promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all by providing access to open online resources, offering continuing degree and micro-credential programs, and conducting research that addresses community needs. In alignment with its mandate as a research university and its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, UP ensures that learning remains accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving demands of society.

The following are just a few examples of online public resources made available to the university’s research and scholarly community:

• The UP System continuously subscribes to online databases, granting its academic community access to thousands of books, journals, and scholarly materials across a wide range of disciplines.
• UP Los Baños spearheaded a training-workshop to capacitate partner universities in developing and writing micro-credential modules on food security and climate change. The workshop was held from April 22 to 26, 2024, at the Bangkhen campus of Kasetsart University in Bangkok, Thailand.
• The UP Visayas College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences actively contributes to knowledge generation through research projects and extension programs that promote the practical application of scientific findings. Numerous articles from The UP Institute of Islamic Studies Library promote public scholarship by offering open-access journals in Islamic Studies, Islamic History, and Contemporary Islamic Thought through the Directory of Open Access Journals and the Wiley Online Library, both of which are available across the UP System.
• The UP Open University (UPOU), through its Continuing Education Program, offers non-formal courses in environment, health and social development, and entrepreneurship, reinforcing UP’s mission to expand access to flexible learning pathways.

UPOU Publishes the Journal of Management and Development Studies

In July 2024, UPOU released Volume 11, Number 1 (2022) of the Journal of Management and Development Studies (JMDS), the official online scientific journal of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS). The issue features research articles on diverse topics, including the use of communication technologies in nursing care (Domalaon), the role of e-commerce in supporting teachers (De Leon), and the motivation of agricultural employees to pursue advanced training in organic agriculture (Gasmen & Calub).

The JMDS is a biannual, peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original research in various fields such as environment and natural resources management, agriculture, land valuation, health sciences, public management, research and development management, social work, and entrepreneurship. It also includes notes and reviews on emerging issues in management and development.

With its internationally composed Board of Editors and Reviewers, the JMDS aims to engage a global readership and promote the exchange of research-based knowledge that contributes to social and economic development. The journal’s open-access format ensures that its content is freely available to scholars, practitioners, and the general public, aligning with the principles of lifelong learning and equitable access to quality education.

Originally launched in 2012 as the FMDS Research Bulletin, the JMDS continues to advance UPOU’s mission of providing flexible, inclusive, and technology-driven education while contributing to the achievement of the SDG 4.

The University of the Philippines actively promotes lifelong learning by organizing and hosting free public events that share knowledge, foster intercultural understanding, and provide accessible educational opportunities beyond the classroom. Through concerts, seminars, exhibitions, symposia, and workshops, UP engages both local and international communities, contributing to inclusive education and public access to research, culture, and the arts.

• The University of the Philippines opened its Cebu campus grounds to the public on December 7, 2023, for the debut concert of the UP Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Josefino “Chino” Toledo, showcasing the university’s commitment to promoting accessible arts and cultural education. The free open-air performance drew students, faculty, and community members, highlighting UP’s role in bringing world-class music to the public.
• Educators and administrators from various Muslim schools and programs convened in Zamboanga City on July 4–5, 2024, for a two-day capacity-building workshop organized by the UP Center for Integrative and Development Studies–Islamic Studies Program and the UP Institute of Islamic Studies. The workshop promoted curriculum integration, contextualization, and inclusive teaching, reinforcing the university’s commitment to advancing Muslim education and evidence-based policy development.
• The UP Asian Center, in partnership with the UP Office of International Linkages, held the World Expert Lecture Series titled “The Philippines as Archipelago: Making the Familiar Strange” on January 19, 2024, at the UP Asian Institute of Tourism, emphasizing the growing relevance of island studies in shaping sustainability and policy. The free public lecture gathered experts and policymakers who emphasized the Philippines’ potential to lead global island research and collaboration alongside other archipelagic nations such as Indonesia and Japan.
• Scholars and experts from around the world gathered online on November 29, 2023, for the UP Asian Center and Department of Foreign Affairs’ free public webinar Philippine Studies Abroad: Promoting the Filipino Identity in a Multicultural, Multipolar World, which explored the expanding field of Philippine Studies and its role in promoting Filipino identity and intercultural understanding globally.
• The UP Diliman Department of Linguistics extends language education beyond campus through its Extramural Classes Program, offering courses in Asian languages such as Bahasa Indonesia/Malaysia, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, and Thai, which are open to the public in the Philippines and abroad.
• UP Los Baños (UPLB), through the Department of Education-UPLB Nurturing Opportunities for the Next Generation (DUNONG) Program, and in partnership with the Department of Education-Laguna, held a stakeholders’ meeting on May 23, 2024, in Nagcarlan, Laguna to present pilot initiatives on reading enhancement, nutrition, and organic agriculture aimed at addressing learning poverty in the country.
• UP Manila opened its doors to the public on May 10, 2024, for “Dëmalës Mëganad: Sampaksaan at Lakbay-Aral sa Maynila”, a cultural and educational event celebrating the wisdom and traditions of the Tëduray and Lambangian peoples under UP Diliman’s “Suwala Sëkëlungon” program.
• UP Open University welcomed the public to a free masterclass titled Drawn to Satire: Sketches of Cartoonists in Singapore on July 23, 2024, featuring Cheng Tju Lim, country editor of the International Journal of Comic Art, who discussed the role of comics and creative non-fiction in narrating life stories and popular culture.
• To show how art can shape community and belonging, ARTS 1 students of UP Tacloban College staged Spaces to Places, an exhibit held from May 17 to 24, 2024, featuring prototypes and scale models that transformed campus spaces into creative, meaningful places.
• Blurring the lines between art and play, UP Tacloban College (UPTC) students from ARTS 1 and PHILARTS 1 mounted (dis)PLAY), an interactive installation exhibit inspired by Filipino street games that invited visitors to engage, reflect, and rediscover creativity from May 16 to 24, 2024. Featuring works developed from the “(GE)n Z Ideas Festival Installation Art Symposium & Workshop” with UP Cebu Assistant Professor Jay Nathan Jore on April 29, 2024, the exhibit transformed the campus grounds into a lively space for collaboration and cultural expression..
• The UP Visayas (UPV) College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, through its Institute of Aquaculture, hosted the World Expert Lecture Series featuring Dr. Glenn Satuito of Nagasaki University on February 19–20, 2024. Attended by over 250 participants onsite and online, the two-day event deepened understanding of sustainable marine invertebrate and shellfish aquaculture, and fostered collaboration between UPV, international experts, and local fisheries stakeholders.

UP Strengthens Teaching of Philippine Muslim History in Higher Education

To advance the integration of Philippine Muslim History (PMH) in higher education, CIDS-ISP and IIS conducted “Capacity Building for Philippine Muslim History Teachers” on February 17–18, 2024, at Almari Beach Resort, Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.

The two-day activity gathered Muslim historians and faculty members from universities across Mindanao, including Western Mindanao State University, MSU-Sulu, and MSU-Tawi-Tawi. It aimed to equip educators with appropriate content, methodologies, and strategies for teaching PMH, an initiative grounded in Republic Act No. 10908, which mandates the integration of Filipino-Muslim and Indigenous Peoples’ history into the national curriculum.

Assistant Professor Darwin J. Absari, CIDS-ISP convenor, underscored the project’s goal to mainstream PMH in colleges and universities, particularly in communities with significant Muslim populations. “Our objective is to make PMH accessible to all students,” he said, emphasizing the need for cohesive syllabi and accessible reference materials. Associate Professor Nefertari Arsad, CIDS-ISP project leader, guided discussions on curriculum contextualization and instructional design for PMH courses.

Participants also visited historical landmarks of deep roots in Islam in the Philippines such as Sheik Makdum Mosque, Bud Bangao Peak, and the Old Chinese Pier.

The initiative supports Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10 by promoting inclusive and culturally grounded education. Through teaching PMH, the program builds understanding, respect, national unity, and ensures that the narratives of Muslim Filipinos are recognized as vital threads in the country’s collective history.

Across the University of the Philippines (UP) System, academic units continue to champion inclusive learning and community engagement by hosting programs and training workshops open to the public. Through scholarships, short courses, policy forums, and vocational initiatives, these efforts exemplify UP’s commitment to lifelong learning and align with its goal of providing accessible executive and professional education beyond the traditional classroom.

• The UP School of Economics Alumni Association sustains its commitment to accessible, high-quality education through scholarship and research grant programs that provide financial aid to deserving students from low-income backgrounds and those demonstrating exceptional academic performance. Alumni-funded initiatives such as the FMAP Scholarships, the Fermin Taruc Scholarship Fund, and various graduate research awards nurture future economists and leaders who contribute to national and sustainable development.
• The UP Los Baños (UPLB) Dairy Training and Research Institute, conducted Short Course on Dairy Nutrition, Feeding Management, and Forage Production on November 20–24, 2023. Supported by Alaska Milk Corporation and the Kingdom of the Netherlands via the UPLB Foundation Inc., the program enhanced participants’ competencies in sustainable dairy production.
• The UP Manila College of Nursing’s Project Lusog-Linang successfully concluded its three-day Basic Community Health Workers’ Training, strengthening community-based health initiatives and promoting volunteerism through the participation of 29 Health Lead Scholars.
• UP Mindanao convened the policy forum Retail Food Industry: Prices, Practices, & Power on March 18, 2025, featuring UP alumnus John Y. Gaisano Jr., to examine evolving market trends, pricing structures, and technological innovation in the Philippine retail sector.
• UP Open University (UPOU) continues to advance inclusive education through Massive Open Distance eLearning, its platform for massive open online courses, which provides free courses on open distance learning, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship, among others.
• UP Visayas underscored the importance of food safety through its Training on Good Manufacturing Practices for Food Handlers on February 5 and 7, 2024. Led by Dr. Johannes M. Magpusao of the School of Technology, the training educated food kiosk operators and vendors on hygiene, hazard control, and compliance with Republic Act No. 10611 to promote safe, healthy food practices.

UPOU Expands Access to Lifelong Learning Through Continuing Education Program

In a world where access to quality education remains a challenge, UPOU continues to bridge educational gaps through its Continuing Education Program (CEP). Designed for professionals, lifelong learners, and the general public, CEP offers short courses and training modules that make learning flexible, inclusive, and accessible to individuals from all walks of life.

Through CEP, UPOU extends its academic resources beyond traditional classrooms by offering courses in leadership, education, sustainable development, communication, and digital technologies. These open-enrollment courses cater to individuals seeking to upgrade skills, transition careers, or explore new fields of knowledge—regardless of age, occupation, or location. Delivered fully online, the program allows learners to study at their own pace, reinforcing that distance and time should never hinder one’s pursuit of education.

The program directly advances Sustainable Development Goal 4 by promoting inclusive and equitable lifelong learning opportunities for all. Through its open short courses and executive education programs, UPOU embodies the university’s public service mandate—transforming education into a tool for empowerment, participation, and development in a rapidly changing world.

CEP exemplifies the university’s commitment to democratizing knowledge and cultivating a learning society. By making education continuously accessible to the public, UPOU empowers Filipinos to become proactive contributors to national progress and global citizenship.