Filipinos in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to benefit from the UAE’s recognition of degrees from the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), the university announced.

The UPOU said its degrees are now “officially recognized for equivalency” by the UAE’s Ministry of Education, which will enhance “career advancement and employment opportunities” for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

“This development will have a profound impact on the professional and economic mobility of our OFWs, enabling them to transition from high-risk, low-paying jobs to safer, more stable, and higher-income positions,” said UP president Angelo Jimenez.

Before the accreditation, Filipinos with UPOU degrees reportedly faced challenges in career advancement due to the lack of recognition of their graduate programs in the UAE, the university said.