The Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) welcomes students from Ulster University, Northern Ireland, as part of the International Student Exchange Program on Social Work, hosted by the College of Human Ecology of UP Los Baños (CHE-UPLB), held from May 13 to 18, 2025. Students will be engaged in various learning activities during this program which aims to create an immersive and interactive cultural knowledge exchange for Ulster University social work students and the opportunity to adapt and learn about inclusive practice which seeks to challenge intersectional oppression and support citizens and communities to thrive. 

The FMDS, as UPOU’s academic unit committed to fostering international academic partnerships and contributing to the global discourse on inclusive and community-centered social work education, hosted a session on 15 May 2025, at the Oblation Hall, UPOU Headquarters in Los Baños, Laguna.

Associate Professor Finaflor F. Taylan, FMDS Dean, officially welcomed the delegates and led an in-depth discussion entitled “Social Work in the Philippines: Theory and Practice.” Dean Taylan provided the Ulster University students with a deeper appreciation of the Philippine social work landscape, particularly in terms of theory application, policy frameworks, and community-based interventions.

FMDS-UPOU supports this international initiative in cooperation with the Department of Social Development Services (DSDS), CHE-UPLB, co-led by Assistant Professor Marife B. Dapito, Chair of the Committee on Alumni and International Relations (CAIR), and Assistant Professor Nica Marie S.J. Arganosa. This collaboration strongly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

FMDS-UPOU offers the Diploma in Social Work and Master of Social Work programs through open and distance learning, designed to equip professionals in social welfare and development with advanced knowledge and skills in direct practice, leadership, and community engagement—making graduate education in social work accessible to learners across the Philippines and beyond.

Written by: Dona Lyn M. Piamonte • Edited by: Larry N. Cruz

Sustainable Development Goals

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