A year after assuming the presidency of the University of the Philippines (UP), Angelo Jimenez launched the 10 flagship programs on Tuesday, June 18, as part of the university’s Strategic Plan for 2023-2029, during the weeklong celebration of UP’s 116th founding anniversary
According to Jimenez, the initiative aims to strengthen UP's contributions to the formation of "a just, equitable, and sustainable society."
In a significant development for education in the Philippines, UP has launched 10 groundbreaking programs designed to enhance academic quality and make learning more accessible.
The educational institution has initiated a series of flagship programs aimed at advancing education, research, and societal impact.
"My goal is for UP to truly serve the people, by ensuring that we not only strengthen our academic capacities as a leading national and global university, but also look beyond the traditional confines of the academe and work towards national development and social justice," Jimenez said.
The media launch took place at the Malcolm Hall Auditorium at UP Diliman, Quezon City.
This initiative falls under UP's new motto, "Honor, Excellence, Service."
One of the flagship programs was Artificial Intelligence (AI), under the "Digital Transformation.”
He explained that AI is already present, and its impact depends on how users choose to employ it.
"It can do a lot of good. And anything that can do a lot of good can also do a lot of evil, depending on the intent and the use of it," Jimenez said.
In July 2023, UP became the first university to launch a doctoral program in AI in the country.
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Aside from the "Digital Transformation," another program is "Academic Excellence."
This aims to enhance curriculum quality, expand academic programs, and address pressing social issues through multidisciplinary research.
UP is pioneering lifelong learning via innovative digital platforms like Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Meanwhile, the university is revamping its admissions policy to promote "Inclusive Admission."
This includes revising criteria to consider economic status and geographic origins alongside academic merit, bolstered by initiatives like expanding UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) centers and the “Hatid Iskolar” Program to support underprivileged communities.
Moreover, UP’s new flagship programs include Research and Innovation; Open and Distance e-Learning (ODeL); Archipelagic and Oceanic Virtual University (AOVU); Active and Collaborative Partnerships; Arts and Culture; Expansion of Public Service Offices; and Quality Management System (QMS) and Quality Assurance (QA).