The University of the Philippines (UP) Manila is set to bring 21 courses across various disciplines to international learners beginning December through an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platform for short courses, microcredentials, and online degrees operated by the Education Centre of Australia (ECA).

This follows the signing of a partnership agreement between UP Manila and OpenLearning on 2 October.

UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee said the collaboration aligns with the university’s mission “to continuously develop the country’s health human resources.”

Tee explained that the short courses will be self-paced and accessible through modular learning. Among the offerings are Gender Sensitivity Training, AI for Medical Educators, Medical Informatics for Medical Educators, Primary Healthcare-Oriented Practice for Specialists, Clinical Ethics for Tertiary Hospital Care, and Basic ECG Course for the Non-Internist.

Other available courses include Smoking and Vaping Cessation Training for Frontline Physicians, Brain Death Determination in a Tertiary Hospital, Good Clinical Practice for Research Certification, Care for the Elderly in the Philippine Setting, Clinical Teaching, Dental Radiography, Dental Pharmacology, Public Health Topics, Leadership in Advanced Nursing, Advanced Nursing for Critical Care, Government Design: Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary, Geriatric and Oncology Nursing, Forensic Science: The Basics, Clinical Audiometry, and Clinical Pharmacy.

Students must pass the examination to receive a certificate and a digital badge, which they can upload to their professional profiles.

Dr. Leonora Fernandez, coordinator of UP Manila’s Office of Continuing Education, said she hopes the program marks the beginning of a time when “everyone in the Philippines and even abroad can have a ‘Tatak UP’ badge.”

“The courses are not just lectures. There will also be skills-based acquisition training programs,” Fernandez added.

OpenLearning, which operates under the ECA Group, has existing partnerships with several higher education institutions, including the University of New South Wales, Australian Catholic University, Western Sydney University, and Temasek Polytechnic. UP Manila is its first Philippine state university partner.