The OU and The Arab Open University strengthen partnership

The Open University (the OU) recently hosted its educational partner, The Arab Open University (the AOU) at the OU’s campus in Milton Keynes. The visit provided the opportunity for discussions on a diverse range of educational synergies between the institutions.

The OU currently validates 13 AOU programmes in business, computing, education and language studies, all delivered by a flexible blended learning model and quality assured by the OU. The portfolio is due for a substantial expansion during the current academic year with plans underway to introduce a further six OU validated awards in e-Sports, Games Programming, AI, Data Science, Healthcare Management and Business Data Analytics and Technology Management.

The OU and the AOU have also been working to support Palestinian students from Gaza, continue their studies with the AOU though a hardship fund that has now given financial assistance to over 250 students.

We are proud of our partnership with The Arab Open University which demonstrates the very best in international educational collaboration. For over twenty years our partnership has enabled over 58,000 students to graduate with a dual award, enabling their qualification to be recognised around the world. We are looking forward to the expansion of our partnership supporting even more students achieve the future careers that they aspire to.

Professor Josie Fraser
Deputy Vice-Chancellor at The Open University

“Through our hardship fund we have now supported over 250 Palestinian and Lebanese students to continue their studies with The Arab Open University through the most challenging of circumstances. It’s vital for us, as an institution, to respond with compassion and real, impactful support, and through the fund we have been able to do this, enabling these students to achieve their academic goals.”

For over twenty years our collaboration has enabled us to learn from each other and to make significant advances in the domains of teaching, learning and assessments. We look forward to further strengthening that collaboration though the delivery of a further six OU validated programmes.

Professor Naif Almutairi
Vice President of Academic Affairs and Scientific Research

“Our hardship fund has made a meaningful impact on their lives of students and their communities and exemplifies the shared commitment of AOU and OU to supporting students in need. Through the fund, we have extended a lifeline to those facing extraordinary challenges, empowering them to continue their education and work toward a brighter future.”

The AOU is a non-profit institution operating in eight countries across the Middle East and North Africa with over 56,000 students currently registered on OU-validated degree programmes enabling them to receive a dual award – one from the AOU and one from the OU. To date, more than 58,000 students have graduated with an OU-award, with 56% of the conferred students being women.

The partnership goes back to 2002 when the AOU was set up to improve access to higher and continuing education, irrespective of age, gender, income, geographical location and employment across the Arab region. The AOU’s social mission is closely aligned with the OU’s, and through this collaboration, the OU has been able to promote its mission to widen access in education on a global scale.