MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 4, 2014) – The Graduate Certificate in Master of ASEAN Studies have been approved for offering at the UP Open University starting the First Semester 2014-2015, which begins in August.
The ASEAN Studies Graduate Program intends to promote regional and global understanding about ASEAN Countries from the perspective of ASEAN; increase the ASEAN community’s consciousness of its common historical, cultural, and regional identity; and obtain a balanced perspective in ASEAN studies.
The Graduate Program is designed for post-baccalaureate individuals, professionals, educators, and practitioners and those who are interested, qualified and academically competent to pursue graduate level education. As the program is “ladderized,” a student who completes the Graduate Certificate may opt to graduate with the degree and seek admission into the Master’s program within three years of earning the Graduate Certificate with at least a GWA of 2.0.
The Graduate Certificate in ASEAN Studies, consisting of 15 units of coursework,is aimed at developing graduates who are able to demonstrate comprehensive understanding, insights, and mastery about ASEAN and the countries comprising it and to contribute to an enhanced and heightened ASEAN community’s consciousness and awareness of its ties of history, culture and bound by a common regional identity but celebrating diversity.
In addition to the objectives of the graduate certificate, the Master of ASEAN Studies, consisting of 27 units of coursework and a master’s thesis, aims to develop graduates who can apply balanced theoretical and practical perspectives in engaging with issues and problems in ASEAN region; contribute to knowledge creation, research development and sharing in ASEAN studies; and undertake further and advanced study in ASEAN studies and related issues.
The framework for the ASEAN Studies Graduate Program was jointly developed by 5 Open Universities in the ASEAN region, namely, Hanoi Open University, Open University of Malaysia, Sukhothai Thammatirat Open University in Thailand, Universitas Terbuka in Indonesia, and UP Open University in the Philippines.
In the spirit of the One ASEAN, students are given the opportunity to take courses in any of the collaborating ASEAN Open Universities following the UP Policy for cross enrollment.
Application to GCAS and MAS for 1st Semester is open until 31 May 2014 and forms are downloadable from the UPOU website may be submitted to the UPOU Admissions Section in Los Baños, Laguna, or to any UPOU Learning Center in the country. Those interested can also send an e-mail atinfo@upou.edu.ph or log on to www.upou.edu.ph for more details.
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