The University of the Philippines Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs organized the UP System General Education Conference 2026 with the aim of enriching the continuing discussion and review of the university’s GE Program, and coming up with strategies to further reinforce the UP GEP.
Carrying the theme, Pagtanaw sa KaaGE: Through the Years, the 2026 iteration of the periodic conference again gathered key administrators, faculty members, and academic leaders from all UP constituent universities to exchange ideas, experiences, and lessons on the GEP in plenary and parallel sessions. Apart from the conference proper held June 4 to 5 at the UP Diliman Institute of Biology auditorium, a fellowship dinner was also held June 4 at Atencio-Libunao Hall to boost camaraderie among attendees.
According to OVPAA, “the conference fulfills the necessary periodical gathering of faculty who champion the heart of UP education, as stated in the GE Framework.” Vice President for Academic Affairs Lorraine Pe Symaco lauded the participation of almost 300 attendees from across the UP System who are engaged in evaluating and improving the GEP, and applying innovations to ensure the courses are deeply-rooted in social realities.
UP President Angelo Jimenez, in his opening remarks, highlighted the crucial role of GE in developing the scientific and critical thinking capabilities of every university student and graduate, especially in view of the complex global challenges and the fast rise of artificial intelligence.
Day one keynote speaker, Emeritus Professor of Higher Education Martin Hayden of the School of Education, Southern Cross University, Australia, shared his reflections on outcomes-based education and graduate attributes. UPD GE Coordinator Anna Sibayan-Sarmiento and Stephany Louise Marquez of the UPD GE Center next presented their report about the UPD GEP in different educational landscapes. In the open forum, Commission on Higher Education Senior Education Specialist Ericson Reyes joined the panel.
View more scenes from the event below:
Concurrent sessions were conducted, where delegates shared reflections on the fulfillment of GEP objectives through the years, insights on teaching and learning practices in the current program, and ways of reinforcing GEP.
On day two, discussion on the impact of AI use in GE teaching and learning were led by: UPD Interactive Learning Center Director Miguel Francisco Remolona; Professor Odine Maria de Guzman of the UPD Department of English and Comparative Literature; Assistant Professor Migel Antonio Catalig of the UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences; and Assistant Professor Gregg Lloren of the UP Cebu College of Communication, Art, and Design.
After the series of meaningful discussions, a conference statement opposing CHED’s Reframed GE Curriculum Component was also presented and unanimously approved by the delegates.