From October 15-17, 2024, in Islamabad, Pakistan, a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City Open University, led by Vice President - Dr. Le Nguyen Quoc Khang, attended the 37th Annual Conference of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU 2024). The event was held under the theme “Expanding Horizons: Innovations in Open and Distance Learning.”

This year’s conference was hosted by Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad, Pakistan, featured with 185 presentations focused on topics such as the Applying technology in distance education (including AI and ChatGPT), innovating in teaching methods, policies and trends of open and distance education (ODE), implementing UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4), quality accreditation, and fostering a learning society and lifelong learning.

Delegation from Ho Chi Minh City Open University took a photo with Prof. Dr. Nasir Mahmood - Rector and Dr. Zahid Majeed - Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange of Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan

At the conference, the delegation from Ho Chi Minh City Open University shared two presentations, offering insights and recommendations focused on the current situation and solutions to promote online teaching and learning in today’s digital technology landscape. In addition, the delegation actively participated in plenary sessions, parallel sessions, and engaged in discussions to enhance collaborative opportunities with other open universities in the region.

Lecturers actively participated in sharing at the Conference

This conference attracted the attention of a large number of lecturers, researchers, experts, and policymakers from all over Asia and other countries. Accordingly, the discussions focused on the future of online and distance learning, how innovations and technologies can bridge the educational gap within communities, the risks and potential of AI in open and distance learning, learner support systems, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on open and distance learning practices.

With a spirit of collaboration and knowledge-sharing, the conference provided opportunities to enhance the development of distance learning networks among educational institutions in Asia and globally.

In addition to sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovations among lecturers, researchers, experts, and policymakers to develop personal capacities and promote training development, the AAOU conference also focused on initiatives to improve quality assurance processes at Open Universities in Asia. The proposal for a common set of standards by AAOU marked an important milestone in the association's commitment to improve the quality of education in open and distance learning worldwide.

The delegation took a photo with Prof. Dr. Ojat Darojat - President of AAOU/Rector of Terbuka University, Indonesia