Article by: Therese Anne B. Cruz
Graphics by: Ma. Alyssa Therese S. Manalang
Mapúa University (MU) continues to break through the world of digital education in the Philippines as it officially launches Mapúa X, a streaming-based platform with educational content accessible for Mapúans and learners. In collaboration with Anthology, the platform also aims to address the learning poverty in the country and improve Mapúa’s online education program, the Mapúa Ubiquitous Online Experience (Mapúa ÚOx).
In a press release held last May, MU launched the project with Anthology wherein MU President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo stated that Mapúa X is among the University's initiative to making education more accessible in the country.
In an interview with The New Builder, Director for Operations, Technology, and Analytics for the newly established Institute for Digital Learning, Engr. Ericson D. Dimaunahan, shared that Mapúa X will be available to current enrolled students, learners, alumni, and professionals who wish to upskill themselves. The platform is embedded within Blackboard or Cardinal EDGE.
“…The fully online programs will be students under the Mapúa UoX will be able to access it, but for students [enrolled in regular undergraduate and graduate programs], we also are putting in some free contents, which is part of Mapúa's CSR or corporate social responsibility. These are free contents, under ubiquitous snippets and STEM Teach.” the IDL Director explained.
Engr. Dimaunahan dubbed the platform as the “Netflix of education,” as students will be able to access a wide variety of courses, lecture materials, and micro credentials. The contents for the platform will be mostly powered by MU’s subject matter experts, with some outsources material as well – but will also undergo Mapúa's stamp of quality.
Regarding the availability of contents, Engr. Dimaunahan stated that students under UoX will have access to the same timeline for students enrolled in regular undergraduate and graduate programs. “…We are changing the way the ÚOx students will be accessing the contents before ÚOx are mainly self-paced courses, but now we'll be very classifying them into some are self-paced courses, but some are in structural-led courses. …Initially Mapúa X, will still follow the same calendar year of the traditional courses meaning all that the rest of the programs that we offer.”
Among the features to look forward to in the future of Mapúa X, Engr. Dimaunahan discusses the on-going works of a tool which provides micro-credential or digital badges for certain courses to verify that a user has trained for a particular skillset. “Those are unique badges or readings that are verifiable with certain skills set to the student already developed.”
When asked about the possibility of the platform opening to the public, the IDL Director explained that there will be a difference in fees depending on the user. “There are certain courses that are for free. Those are under the corporate social responsibility courses. But eventually all the main courses that Mapúa offers such as the programs or the six ÚOx programs that are still paid. And we'll still follow the same costing or fees charged to ÚOx students. For professionals, LGC will be providing the contents and partners, so it depends on what type of training or upskilling that the learner wants to have. So again, the costing or for the access of the course will be depending on what type of learner you are. If you are on an undergraduate student taking a fully online course, it will still be based on your current tuition fee.”
MU will continue to subscribe to Coursera – a global online learning platform that offers online courses and degrees from leading universities and companies – that the University uses for students to enhance their knowledge or skills of a certain subject, “…We'll still partner with them as they are an established company providing multiple number of micro-credentials and some of their certificates are already credited towards America and Europe, I guess we'll still be partnering with them and use their platform in terms of upskilling or improving our contents.”
Additionally, MU will also remain partners with educational vendors such as McGraw-Hill, Wiley, Cengage, and Coursera, as it acknowledges their importance and how partnering with these platforms will improve the way educational content is being delivered to students.
Engr. Dimaunahan clarified that Mapúa X will not affect any existing school fees as this is an additional feature especially for the fully online students, alumni, learners, and professionals.
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