How do you respond to the challenge of enabling large numbers of Arab citizens, irrespective of age, gender, income, geographical location and employment, to access higher and continuing education? The solution was the creation of an Arab Open University. The Arab OU launched its teaching activities in 2002 in Kuwait, Jordan and Lebanon and has since expanded to Egypt, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
This exciting and large-scale project was made possible by the partnership between the Arab OU and The Open University. As an approved institution, the Arab OU delivers Open University validated awards across all seven countries in the Middle East. They have also licensed curriculum from The Open University and contracted consultancy services to support the implementation of that curriculum and some student support services, such as the e-library.
The Arab Open University currently offers three undergraduate validated awards in English Language and Literature, Information Technology and Computing (ITC) and Business, and three postgraduate Validated Awards in English Literature, Software Development and Business.
The partnership has helped the Arab OU to achieve its scale of ambition with a current total of around 28,500 graduates and students registered on Open University validated awards. It has also demonstrated that it is possible to teach large numbers of students through blended education using high quality learning materials, specially adapted by the OU to meet cultural and religious requirements.
Find out more about this partnership.