Looking to Upskill? UP Just Added 25 Free Online Courses

Looking for a productive way to spend the rest of the year? The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) has announced a new lineup of free online courses running from July to December 2026.

Offered through UPOU’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) program, the 25 self-paced courses cover everything from business and artificial intelligence to climate resilience, education, child development, and Filipino language. This round also introduces six new and returning courses, giving learners even more options to explore at their own pace. 

According to UPOU’s Facebook post, the latest MOOC lineup is scheduled across July to November, with some courses returning after previous runs and others making their debut.

July

• Strategic Planning in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL)

• Technology in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL)

• Climate Information Services

• Internalizing Behaviors among Children and Practical Home Support (new/returning)

• Social Entrepreneurship

• Fundamentals of Marketing

• Understanding the Language of Business: Accounting Overview & Basic Financial Statements (new)

• Introduction to Permaculture: The Ethics of Permaculture and Design Principles

August

• AI Essentials: Theory and Practice

• Batayang Kasanayan sa Akademikong Pagsulat sa Filipino (new)

• Panimulang Kasanayan sa Gramatikang Filipino (new)

• Gaining Parental Acceptance and Support

September

• Quality Assurance in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL)

• Externalizing Disorders among Children and Practical Home Support

• Gaining Parental Acceptance and Support

October

• Research Ethics: Fundamental Concepts and Review Process (new)

• Learner Support in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL)

• Blended Teaching and Learning Using OERs

• Implementing and Evaluating Programs for Child Rights

• Overview of Policies and Strategies for Climate and Disaster Resilience

• Resilience Strategies Across the Four Pillars

• Risk Analysis for Project Management

November

• Technology in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL)

• Introduction to Technology for Teaching and Learning

• Teaching and Learning with Modern ICTs

• Understanding School-related Gender-based Violence

Enrollment takes place through UPOU’s MODeL platform. To get started, create an account, verify your email address, then browse the homepage for courses that are open for self-enrollment. UPOU notes that self-enrollment typically opens around two weeks before a course begins and remains available while the course is running.

The university also recommends signing up with a Gmail account to help ensure confirmation emails and course updates are delivered without issues. Due to high traffic, email verification may take up to three business days.

All MOOCs are free, fully online, and self-paced, allowing learners to study whenever their schedule permits. Those who successfully complete a course will receive a 16-hour e-certificate that can be added to their résumé or professional portfolio.

For announcements on upcoming enrollments and newly available courses, UPOU encourages learners to follow its MOOC updates and check the MODeL homepage regularly. For technical concerns or other inquiries, participants may contact the MODeL team at model@upou.edu.ph.