KNOWING THE INTERNATIONAL
COMMUNICATORS OPEN UNIVERSITY
What is the International
Communicators Open University?
The International Communicators Open
University (ICOU) Foundation Inc. is the first web-based
Christian Open University in the Asia-Pacific Region
(APR). It is patterned after the University of the
Philippines Open University.
It's distinctives are the following:
1. It is a research-focused, on-line based, international Open University for World Missions.Any born-again Christian can enroll and study online wherever country he is residing. 2. It is the only university in the Philippines with a faculty line-up composed only of University of the Philippines graduates. This policy on the choice of faculty members is aimed to give the students the best Christian faculty members available. 3. It is the only university in the world that requires recipients of the Doctor of Strategic Missions(Honoris Causa) to write a dissertation. 4. It is a World Missions school founded with the purpose of evangelizing the whole Philippines with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
ICOU Incorporation Papers.
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here for a larger image.
The Founding of ICOU
It was founded on December 31, 2001 by Bible-believing Christians in a meeting at the
Manila Hotel specifically called for such purpose.
All founders are from the University of the
Philippines (Diliman and Manila). The President is
Dr. Norberto L. Mercado, BAJ, BABC, MNSA, DD, and
DSM
Some of the officers of the University of the Philippines System Christian Alumni Association who founded the International Communicators Open University Foundation Incorporated (ICOU) are shown in this picture at the lobby of the Manila Hotel on December 31, 2001, New Years Eve. From left to right: Mary Anne Rhoda Magalong, Jerusalem Mercado, Dr. Aida Magalong, Dr. Norberto Mercado, Eng. John Mark Mercado, and Dr. June Mercado
ICOU was approved as an Open University
by the Office of the President of the Philippines,
Malacanang Palace, Commission on Higher Education
(CHED). Its primary purpose is to offer tertiary courses
(certificates, diplomas, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees)in World Missions.
Why establish the ICOU?
Due to the desire of Christian
missionaries, ministers and laymen
among Filipinos and other nationalities to pursue higher
education without leaving their jobs, Christian
alumni from the University of the Philippines under the
leadership of Dr. Norberto L. Mercado decided that it
was time to reach out and help them achieve their
educational goals.
Through its web-based distance
education, ICOU will be able to help respond to the
demand for higher education by Filipinos and other
nationalities anywhere in the world.
Former Defense Secretary and now Executive Secretary Dr.Eduardo Ermita, addresses the ICOU conferees during the first Philippine Missionary Army Day at the UP Theatre, University of the Philippines, Diliman Campus on December 6, 2003.
What is the mission of the
ICOU?
The International Communicators Open
University envisions to provide wider access to quality
higher education to its students anywhere in the world.
The Open University will stand and stick to exemplary
academic standards and encourage Christian
responsibility to God and to humanity among its faculty,
staff, and students.
