PROFESSOR JOANE V. SERRANO

Dr. Joane V. Serrano is the Chancellor of the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and Professor of Environmental and Sustainability Communication. Her work advances sustainability, environmental and development communication, indigenous knowledge systems, experiential learning, and open and distance e-learning (ODeL) as pathways toward more inclusive and equitable education.

A recognized leader in sustainability-oriented education, Dr. Serrano has been at the forefront of rethinking how higher education institutions respond to complex global challenges. She has championed open and distance learning in expanding access to quality education, particularly for underserved, remote, and non-traditional learners. Her work highlights the importance of contextualized, community-engaged, and lifelong learning approaches in building resilient and sustainable societies.

Dr. Serrano contributes to international efforts to advance equitable and quality education under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4. As Chancellor of UPOU, a member of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) Board, she represents the University in global discussions on open, distance, and sustainable education, supporting collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Deeply committed to public service, she has led initiatives integrating education, heritage conservation, and environmental stewardship in partnership with local communities and institutions. Her leadership reflects a strong belief in education as a driver of social transformation and ecological responsibility.

As Chancellor, she envisions UPOU as a future-oriented and transformative university that advances inclusive, resilient, and innovative education for a sustainable future.