Arab Open University
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| Motto | Towards a promising future. |
|---|---|
| Type | Private |
| Established | 2002 |
| President | Prince Talal ibn Abdulaziz |
| Rector | Musa Mihsein |
| Location | |
| Website | Bahrain Egypt Jordan Kuwait Lebanon Saudi Arabia Oman |
Arab Open University (AOU, in Arabic الجامعة العربية المفتوحة) is a non-profit, private Pan Arab university founded in 2002. The university occupies several campuses located across the Middle East and these can be found in Kuwait, Jordan, and Lebanon. In 2003, a year after the initial launch, campuses were also opened in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Oman. The AOU is affiliated with the UK Open University (UKOU) and four validated programs have been established:
- Faculty of Information Technology & Computing
- Faculty of Language Studies (English language)
- Faculty of Business Studies
- Faculty of Educational Studies[1]
Saudi Arabia Branches (SAB)
In 2003, a year following the establishment of the AOU, an inaugural Saudi Arabian campus was opened in Riyadh, the nation's capital city. Since its launch, the Riyadh branch has experienced significant success, with the center currently catering to an enrolled student total of 1500.[2] Saudi Arabia's universities have, traditionally, predominantly accepted students from within its own home nation, whilst students from other nationalities have been turned away, forcing these individuals to continue their education in other countries[citation needed]. However, the AOU was established with a new philosophy that seeks to cater for the needs of the huge number of students wishing to study at the institution and such an open approach has been credited for why the university has flourished since its inception. Indeed, the AOU website explains that it adopts "An Open System of Education", whereby a paradigm has been created that is flexible in its capacity to accommodate a "wider base of Higher Education (HE) seekers".[3]
In 2008 the SAB expanded further and released a greater range of types of certifications for students, improving upon the single option that existed in each department prior to the change. Additionally, the university announced the commencement of three more programs, a decision that proved financially advantageous as an increase in the number of students seeking to study at the university occurred as a consequence[citation needed].
Teaching methods
The AOU teaching methods are mixture between a distant learning system, and a normal university system. Students go to the branch frequently; especially full time students might need to visit the branch 3 times a week, %25 of the number of hours are taken in the branch. The university also offers each student the online Learning management System (LMS), where students can access assessment components, participants, and tutors online.
Undergraduate programs 2010
The AOU offers three programs co-awarded in collaboration with the United Kingdom Open University (UKOU).
The AOU offering the following certifications:
IT department
- BSc Computing
- BSc Computing with Business
- BSc Bachelor of Science in Information and Communication Technologies
- BSc Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and Computing
Business department
- BA Business Studies - Systems Track
- BA Business Studies - Economics Track
- BA Business Studies - Accounting Track
- BA Business Studies - Marketing Track
- BA Business Studies
English department
- BA English Language and Literature
- BA English Language with Business
Education department
- BA Elementary Education
- BA Special Education - Mental Retardation[4]
Academic calendar
The AOU has three semesters: First, Second, and Summer.[5]
References
- ^ Vaclav Snasel, Jan Platos, Eyas El-Qawasmeh, ed. (2011). Digital Information Processing and Communications: International ..., Part 1 (Google book (uploaded)). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. p. 333. ISBN 978-3-642-22388-4.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: editors list (link) - ^ AOU, History. [2008]. Available from:'http://www.arabou.org.sa/en/history.php '(Accessed 15 Aug 2010)
- ^ "Open Learning" (Web page). arabou.edu.kw (in English and Arabic). Arab Open University. 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ AOU, undergraduate programs. [2010], Available from:' http://www.arabou.org.sa/en/undergraduateprg.php# ' (Accessed 15 Aug 2010).
- ^ AOU, KSA. Academic Calendar. [2010]. Available from http://www.arabou.org.sa/en/calendar.php (accessed 15 Aug 2010).