Ifugao State University joins distance learning

By Leander C. Domingo

LAGAWE, Ifugao – The Ifugao State University (IFSU) here is now officially a member of the Consortium of Open Distance Education Providers in the Philippines (Codepp).
    Faith Belingon Napudo, IFSU information officer, said the university was a signatory in the memorandum of agreement with seven other higher education institutions in the country.
    Napudo said the MoA was signed at the Benguet State University in La Trinidad town in Benguet province on Jan. 31.
    Dr. Eva Marie Codamon-Dugyon, IFSU president, signed the contract with Dr. Melinda Bandalaria, University of the Philippines-Open University (UPOU) chancellor; Dr. Felipe Comila, Benguet State University president; and Dr. Hernando Robles, Cavite State University president.
    Also forging ties with Codepp were Dr. Edgar Orden, Central Luzon State University president; Dr. Jaime Manuel Jr., Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University president; Dr. Ronald Raymond Sebastian, John Lacson Foundation Maritime University president; and Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Mariano Marcos State University president.
    Codamon-Dugyon said the MoA aims to achieve the shared goal of fostering open distance education in the country.
    She explained that Codepp also aims to provide more opportunities for ideas and expertise to be shared.
    It also provides a platform for the exchange of experiences, instructional best practices, and research findings on flexible and technology-enhanced and open distance e-learning among consortium members and other institutions that are interested in implementing strategies for lifelong learning and inclusive education, among others.
    The consortium is chaired by UPOU for the first two years as the country's pioneer and leading institution in open and distance learning.