The Arab Open University (AOU) is a higher education institution delivering a blended system of learning. The University is mandated to serve local and regional communities by offering high-quality market-driven programmes of study and research at a Pan-Arab level.
The University, which is student-centred, promotes education for all and seeks to disseminate knowledge through carefully chosen undergraduate and graduate programmes delivered by highly qualified academics and supported by state-of-the-art technology.
The effort made by the AOU towards achieving its mission is reflected in its commitment to construct an institution that is 'open' in the sense of:
To achieve its goals and its mission, and to provide opportunities of higher education for as many applicants as possible, the AOU adopted a blended learning model in 2001. This was a pioneering step in the Arab region. AOU's blended model consists of:
The University's blended learning system strikes a balance between traditional learning and e-learning: both of which are based on the principle and practice of self-learning that places the student at the center of the educational process. The AOU has embraced this model with a view to assisting the learners to achieve the targeted learning outcomes through integrating face-to-face tutorials and e-learning that facilitate learning inside the campus or outside it. In particular, this learning system ensures students access to learning resources either on or off campus. These resources include:
The AOU is considered as the house of expertise in this field in the Arab world since it is the first University that applied this system, which was subsequently adopted by other universities. The AOU's partnership with the Open University has the additional advantage of appointing external examiners for all courses, thus safeguarding the quality of learning and teaching at the University.