A Special Model in International Relations The Case

A Special Model in International Relations, The Case of the Arab Open University Dr. Fairouz Farah Sarkis Director – Arab Open University

The Arab Open University (AOU) • The creation of AOU came as a personal initiative by HRH Prince Talal Bin Abdulaziz, President of the Arab Gulf Program for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND) • The university has seven branches: Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Palestine and Yemen branches will be launched soon • AOU is catering the educational needs of more than 30. 000 students across its branches

The International Relation Aspect • A pan-Arab university supported by AGFUND • Agreement with the Open University – United Kingdom • Accreditation by the Open University Validation Services (OUVS) • European standards by adhering to the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) code of practice

Relation with HQ and Branches • Headquarters (HQ) located in Kuwait • Common procedural, administrative, academic, and financial bylaws and regulations • Branches adhere to these bylaws and regulations and to local accreditation needs • Branches share same core curricula with some variations • External Examiners monitor • Examinations are simultaneous for all branches • Auditing and Quality Assurance is done at branch level and HQ

Autonomous Branches • Branches are autonomous and run financial, administrative and procedural affairs independently • Each branch is licensed as an independent university in its own country, and follows the rules and regulations of that country. • Any financial deficiency in any branch is supported by AGFUND

AOU Organizational Charts-Branch Director Branch Council Public and Culture Relations And Media Office of Branch Director Quality Assurance Unit Legal Affairs Learning centers Administrative & Technical Support & Financial Affairs Academic Programs And Student Programs Supervisors Regional centers Administrative & Technical Support & Financial Affairs Assistant to Branch Director for Administrative And Financial Affairs Academic Programs Supervisors Human Resources Admissions, Registration & Examination Public Services Student programs Assistant to Branch Director for Academic Affairs Admissions, Registration & Examination Student Affairs Academic Programs Supervisors Educational Technologies & Information

The UKOU-AOU Partnership • Course material ▫ All material related to the licensed programmes are used by AOU (text, audio, video, etc…. ) • Programme license The following programmes are licensed by UKOU ▫ Business, Economics, etc. ▫ Computer Programming, Networking, etc. ▫ English Language and Literature, etc. • Help in New AOU Course writing ▫ AOU staff spend time in the UK to be trained on developing course material related either to a shared course or to any course AOU will offer independent of the UKOU courses

The UKOU-AOU Partnership - cntd • Help in acquiring Accreditation and Validation Accreditation and validation by OUVS confirms that both the institution and its programmes meet standards of quality set forth by Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). ▫ The purpose of accreditation and validation is to: Use standards of evaluation to ensure quality education: Ensure the accountability of AOU Provide public confidence in AOU

The UKOU-AOU Partnership - cntd • Use of E-library • Training and support for Faculty ▫ Training faculty for each course before its delivery by AOU the first time • Continuing consultation with UKOU faculty • Training on Assessment ▫ Training on how to prepare exams and assignment that reflect learning outcomes, marking criteria, etc. • Training on quality assurance (QA) Training on how to apply QA in all components of the institution • Programmes updates ▫ Any update on the UKOU programmes is granted to AOU

The UKOU-AOU Partnership - cntd • Experience exchange ▫ Several visits by UKOU and AOU staff is done regularly • Partnership conferences ▫ At least two conferences are being done each year that include the great majority of staff • AOU students are granted dual degrees ▫ UKOU degree ▫ AOU degree validated by each branch country

Main benefits of the Agreement • Licensing of courses and course materials ▫ Ensuring courses given by AOU are of high standards and competitive to the European market • Accreditation and Validation ▫ Ensure high standards and confidence in AOU • Website and resource access ▫ AOU students can benefit from OU resources • Alumni ▫ Students can join and benefit from the OU Alumni association and network • Branding and Promotion ▫ Dual degrees ensure that students are getting high end services

Impact of the Relations • First Pan Arab University with European Standards • Quality Assurance through the agreement with the OU • Financial support from the AGFUND