NEXTGEN
UP Open University offering 44 self-paced online courses for free
Looking to enhance your skills for free? The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) is offering 44 Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) this year at no cost.
Announced in a Facebook post, UPOU’s programs include courses like “Identifying Red Flags,” “Creativity and Innovation,” “Artificial Intelligence,” and “Gender Sensitivity.” These courses are self-paced, open to all, and come with e-certificates upon completion, which can be used as 16-hour training credits in resumes.
Here’s the lineup of free courses for 2025:
January
Basics of Resilience
Hazard and Risk Assessment Fundamentals
Overview of Policies and Strategies for Climate and Disaster Resilience
February
Social Entrepreneurship
Principles of Graphic Design
Creativity and Innovation
March
Introduction to Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Strategic Planning in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Understanding the Child Better
Resilience Strategies Across the Four Pillars
Introduction to Biodiversity Mainstreaming and Approaches in the ASEAN Region
Strategies and Best Practices on Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Agriculture
Policy Development and Governance Supporting Agrobiodiversity
Al Essentials: Theory and Practice
April
Maging Mapanuring Botante at Mamamayan
Introduction to Technology for Teaching and Learning
Introductory Course on Contact Center Services
Quality Assurance in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Learner Support in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Legal Instruments for the Protection of Children
Scriptwriting for Educational Video Materials
Project Management
May
Technology in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Teaching and Learning with Modern ICTs
Business Analytics Concepts and Frameworks
Online Mother's Class on Newborn and Infant Care
June
Gender Sensitivity Training
Blended Teaching and Learning Using Open Educational Resources (OERS)
Institutional Mechanism Towards Child Rights Protection and Promotion
Creating Educational Materials Using PowToon
Identifying Red Flags
Al in Education: Teaching and Learning Strategies
July
Introduction to Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Strategic Planning in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Introduction to Technology for Teaching and Learning
Fundamentals of Marketing
E-Commerce Essentials: A beginner's Guide to Online Business
Introduction to Permaculture: The Ethics of Permaculture Design and Principles
August
Teaching and Learning with Modern ICTs
Planning Programs on Child Rights Protection and Promotion
Developing and Producing an Interactive Educational Video Material
Quality Assurance in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Learner Support in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
September
Technology in Open Distance eLearning (ODEL)
Blended Teaching and Learning Using Open Educational Resources (OERS)
Implementing and Evaluating Programs for Child Rights
October
Video Editing Using an Open-Source Video Editing Software
Business Concepts, Ideation, and the Business Plan
What Makes an Entrepreneur?
November
Understanding the Language of Business: Accounting Overview and Basic Financial Statements
Basic Leadership and Management Competencies in the Workplace
December
Rights of Nature
Since its establishment in 1995, UPOU has been a pioneer in online education, empowering Filipinos with skills for the 21st century. Interested learners can enroll through UPOU’s website at model.upou.edu.ph.
How to enroll in UP's free online classes
In their social media post outlining their course offerings, UPOU also walked readers through registering for classes.
First, aspiring online students need to sign up for a MODeL account by filling out this registration form. You'll then receive your log-in details from the university.
UP notes that accounts are created on Thursdays only, after a 4 PM cutoff on Wednesday afternoon. This means that if you sign up after this deadline, you'll have to wait until the following Thursday to receive your credentials. Remember to change your password for maximum security!
Once your account is set up, visit UPOU’s website to sign up for one of their free courses!