UPOU delegates at the LCL 2026 International Workshop in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. From left: Ms. Dona Lyn Piamonte, Asst. Prof. Tricia Ascan, Prof. Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio, Asst. Prof. Joseph De Mesa, and Asst. Prof. Regine Karla Bagalanon.

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) actively participated in the 5th International Workshop on Learner-Centered Learning (LCL 2026) held on 16–18 September 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, hosted by the Mongolian University of Science and Technology (MUST). 

The workshop was co-organized by the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the ASEM LLL Hub, and Chulalongkorn University. Hosted in Mongolia by MUST, the three-day international gathering brought together educators, researchers, and higher education institutions to exchange research and practices on learner-centered learning, particularly amid the rapidly changing educational landscape and the growing role of artificial intelligence.

UPOU’s participation highlighted the University’s continuing contributions to learner-centered education, open and distance e-learning (ODeL), adult learning, assessment, and the use of emerging technologies in education.

A significant highlight of the workshop was the keynote presentation of Prof. Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio of UPOU, who delivered “Democratizing Higher Education in the Philippines: A Learner-Centered Policy Analysis of Open and Distance e-Learning.” Her presentation brought a Philippine perspective to the international discussion on learner-centered approaches and the role of open and distance e-learning in expanding access to higher education.

Prof. Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio delivers her keynote presentation, “Democratizing Higher Education in the Philippines: A Learner-Centered Policy Analysis of Open and Distance e-Learning,” highlighting the role of ODeL in expanding access to higher education.

UPOU faculty and researcher present their studies on learner-centered learning and emerging approaches in ODeL. Clockwise from upper left: Asst. Prof. Regine Karla Bagalanon, Ms. Dona Lyn Piamonte, Asst. Prof. Joseph De Mesa, and Asst. Prof. Tricia Ascan.

UPOU’s participation was further highlighted by the recognition received by Asst. Prof. Bagalanon, who won the Best Presentation Award in one of the sessions for her paper, “Caring Cannot be Prompted: An Autoethnography of Becoming a Nurse Educator in an AI-Enabled ODeL Environment.” 

Asst. Prof. Regine Karla Bagalanon receives the Best Presentation Award for Session 1 for her paper, “Caring Cannot be Prompted: An Autoethnography of Becoming a Nurse Educator in an AI-Enabled ODeL Environment.” She is pictured with MUST Vice President for Development Policy and Digital Transformation Prof. Dr. Badmaanyambuu Ranjil.

Asst. Prof. Bagalanon, Asst. Prof. De Mesa, and Ms. Piamonte’s papers were also nominated for the Best Paper Award. 

Beyond the presentation of research, UPOU representatives also participated in discussions on potential international collaboration. The program included meetings with officials of MUST and Citi University, providing opportunities to exchange ideas and explore future cooperation between institutions. 

On the first day, UPOU participants met with Prof. Dr. Badmaanyambuu Ranjil, Vice President on Development Policy and Digital Transformation of MUST as well as with Citi University representatives for potential cooperation in the future..

Prof. Dr. Juvy Lizette Gervacio with Dr. Oyun Erdenebat, Director of International Relations of Citi University, during discussions on potential institutional cooperation.

UPOU delegates at Citi University following discussions on academic exchange and potential collaboration.

The LCL 2026 workshop also featured discussions on the changing landscape of education in the era of artificial intelligence, including the role of educators, characteristics of learners, AI-supported learning, and learner-centered human–AI collaboration.

Through its participation and recognition at LCL 2026, UPOU contributed Philippine perspectives to international conversations on learner-centered learning while showcasing research and practices rooted in open, flexible, and technology-enabled education. The University’s participation further strengthened opportunities for international knowledge exchange and collaboration in advancing learner-centered approaches in higher education.

Written by: Dona Lyn Piamonte• Edited by: Primo G. Garcia and Larry N. Cruz

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