Presidents of about 150 open and distance learning universities from around the world are taking part in a major conference which opened in Dubai today (November 13).

 

The International Council for Open and Distance Education Standing Conference of Presidents 2012 (ICDE SCOP 2012), a first-of-its-kind gathering in the Arab region, was inaugurated by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. 

 

The conference is being the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and president of Hamdan Bin Mohammed e-University (HBMeU).

 

The conference also marks the 74th anniversary of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). To mark this occasion, Prof Tian Belawati, president of ICDE and rector of the Indonesian Open University has announced a global campaign, starting from Dubai, to further promote e-learning. ICDE is a network of 100 educational institutions worldwide working to promote open and distance learning, and provide opportunities for exchange of educational best practices.

 

The ICDE SCOP 2012 kicked off at the HBMeU headquarters in Dubai Academic City with an opening address by Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief and chairman of HBMeU's Board of Governors. 

 

The Conference is being held under the theme ‘Open and Distance Education (ODE): Barriers, Opportunities & Strategies Forward’ to discuss major challenges and obstacles regarding the implementation of open and distance learning from both an international and regional perspective. It will also explore opportunities ODE provides in helping countries overcome socio-economical challenges and will provide insights into successful strategies for advocacy of ODE. The meeting places particular focus on the latest trends and developments in ODE, including Open Educational Resources, quality and regulatory framework, among others. 

 

"As a leading institution in the field of e-learning, HBMeU is committed to promote academic excellence by building effective channels for communication, and exchange of ideas and experiences with different open and distance learning academic institutions worldwide,” said Lt Gen Tamim. – TradeArabia News Service