Distance learning remained on the fringes of education for years, often viewed as a secondary option to traditional onsite schooling.

However, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, schools and universities were forced to shut their doors, opting instead for online means. This then paved the way for distance learning to be among the most considered options, given the flexibility it offers to individuals.

Yet, beyond the flexibility, distance learning also provided a path for those still exploring their professional endeavors.

For Faye Anjeli Lopez, valedictorian of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Class of 2024 and a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies summa cum laude graduate, this advantage shaped her journey and showed that education is not confined to four walls.

UPOU is one of the universities in the Philippines that offers a purely distance mode of education. It is the fifth autonomous university of the UP system and has been declared by the Commission on Higher Education as the National Center of Excellence in Open Learning and Distance Education.

In her commencement speech last December, Lopez reflected on the reasons that led her to choose a fully distance-based education. Her parents were reluctant to let her study at universities in Manila due to her susceptibility to illness, the distance from their home in Bataan, and the financial instability brought on by the pandemic — challenges that many UPOU students also faced.

She also recounted the journeys of her friends and batchmates she witnessed throughout her collegiate years. Among them were students with physical and mental disabilities, mothers in their classes balancing coursework with household duties, and the breadwinners juggling academics and providing for their families.

“Somehow, they managed to finish with us, handling multiple responsibilities while feeling isolated in ways few could imagine. All because they believed in what we’re celebrating today: the power of open-distance e-learning,” she said.

Before the pandemic, most UPOU enrollees were working students, but when schools shut down, the university saw an influx of students fresh out of senior high school, drawn to its flexible learning setup.

In an interview, Lopez shared that everything in UPOU is done online, and most of the learning methods are done asynchronously. While some professors schedule synchronous classes, she noted that attendance is not mandatory.

“Professors are generally understanding due to the setup. The workloads are usually self-paced. We have deadlines, videos to watch, reading and more,” she said.

This flexibility allowed her to take on three different internships across various industries, helping her discover her career path and secure a job eight months before graduation. It also gave her the freedom to explore freelance projects and side hustles, building a portfolio that, she admitted, would have been much harder to achieve in a traditional school setting.

Despite its advantages, Lopez shared that among the struggles of UPOU students are that they are not widely recognized by certain institutions. Only in 2023 did the Civil Service Commission grant UPOU graduates with distinctions, such as summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude, the Honor Graduate Eligibility. This allows them to qualify for public sector employment.

In a recent development this March, the Philippine government welcomed the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s decision to recognize UPOU degrees. Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante Ang II stated that this new recognition would expand opportunities for Filipinos abroad, particularly for overseas Filipino workers whose UPOU credentials were previously unacknowledged in the Gulf state.

For Lopez, this accreditation is a big milestone for the entirety of UPOU.

“It will encourage more people to take courses or programs in the Philippines, even if they are abroad or in different circumstances,” she said. “The job market will be fairer, and graduates will be able to compete with those from traditional schools for high-paying jobs and better career growth.”

She added that this recognition also reinforces the credibility of distance education on a global scale.

The agency also plans to reach out to UPOU to forge partnerships. The CFO plans to reach out to Filipinos in the UAE, encouraging them to pursue further studies and career advancement.