Philippine voices to shape global dialogue on education

TAGUIG — Insights from education stakeholders in the Philippines are helping shape a global conversation on the future of education, which will continue in the 31st World Conference of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) in Cebu, Philippines, in 2027.

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the integration of online learning in conventional higher education. According to the ICDE, users accessing university education programs through online platforms increased from 12.9 million in 2019 to 31.4 million in 2024.

During a press conference held on  Saturday, 26 September 2026, Dr. Joane Serrano, Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), said, “Despite its accessibility, online learning continues to face challenges including  unequal internet access, digital literacy gaps, institutional readiness, privacy and cybersecurity risks, and ensuring integrity of assessments.”

These challenges can be best addressed through global cooperation that remains responsive to local conditions. “ICDE provides a global arena for sharing innovation, knowledge and good practices, enabling our members to innovate and transform education with local relevance in a global context,” said ICDE Secretary-General Torunn Gjelsvik.

“Through this conference, we aim to examine the developments in open and distance education in order to exchange ideas and collaborate on finding solutions to jointly address these challenges,” Ms. Gjelsvik emphasized.

These insights on the challenges and future direction of flexible learning were identified in the knowledge dialogues conducted by UPOU and ICDE in UP Cebu on 23 September and the Asian Development Bank on 25 September. Education stakeholders gathered at the dialogues to discuss key issues shaping inclusive, flexible, scalable, and sustainable education in the country and the region.

The 31st ICDE World Conference will be held 15 to 19 November 2027, in Cebu, marking the first time that the global gathering will be held in the country. (Written by UPOU Office of Public Affairs and UP Media and Communications Office | Photos by Dianne Cosinas)