Sustainable Institution Building for Open Learning

Abstract

In the transition to a post pandemic world, educational institutions are faced with the challenge of helping to build a more responsive and robust education system in the volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous present and future. This requires critical reflection on lessons learned during the pandemic, reimagining the future of higher education as well as institutional directions, and adopting new strategies for development. This session describes a program to build the capacity of Philippine colleges and universities in this important work. // The Sustainable Institution Building for Open Learning (SIBOL) initiative, as it is called, aims to provide participating higher education institutions with training and mentoring in planning, managing, and sustaining blended, online, and open learning (BOL) programs. Phase 1 of SIBOL consists of seven online training modules, delivered synchronously and asynchronously, on planning BOL programs; systems for BOL materials development, technology management, faculty development, and student support; quality assurance; and research and innovation for sustainability of BOL. Phase 2 is a mentoring program for participating institutions as they implement their BOL institutional strategy. This second phase also aims to strengthen institutional collaboration and networking towards building the open and distance learning ecosystem in the Philippines. // In this paper, early findings from the design, development, and pilot implementation of SIBOL are discussed. SIBOL was conceptualized as UPOU’s pilot project under the EU-funded Advancing Equity and Access to Higher Education through Open and Distance Learning (BUKA) project.