NEWS:

30 May, 2016


LUANAR, OU officials pose for a group photo during the workshop
As part of its efforts to improve delivery of Open Distance Learning (ODL), Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources has partnered with the Open University of United Kingdom (OU), which boasts of nearly 50 years of ODL.

The partnership saw senior officials from AU visiting the country last week to understand the local systems and look at the opportunities for veering ODL to greater heights.

At the end of the tour, LUANAR held a workshop for its key stakeholders at Golden Peacock Hotel in Lilongwe to raise awareness and ensure quality delivery of ODL.

During the Quality Assurance Workshop, the OU also shared its experiences to the stakeholders, who included Deans of Faculty and their members, department and section heads, student representatives, Registrars and other senior staff from both Bunda and Natural Resources College campuses.

Speaking when opening the workshop, LUANAR’s Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Emmanuel Kaunda said it was the wish of the college to have in place systems and sustainable partnerships that would ensure quality ODL programmes and graduates.

“As you are all aware, LUANAR has embarked on ODL in response to the government’s strategic move of widening access to higher education which is propagated through the National Education Sector Plan (NESP).

“The same strategy is evident in LUANAR’s 2012-2017 strategic plan, which realises the need for quality ODL, basing on the fact that bed and classroom space has over the years limited the numbers of students that we could enrol,” said Kaunda.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor said the college stands to benefit from the relationship with OU, which boats of a huge student population of over 240,000.

“Apart from its wealth of experience and huge student population, the OU offers multi- and cross-disciplinary programmes including space science, engineering, business law and other social and basic sciences with the highest level of quality recognised worldwide. This is why we recognised as one of the best potential partners to help LUANAR excel in ODL,” he said.

Deputy Director at the International Development Office of the OU Anna Childs, who led the visiting team said the collaboration between the two institutions was focusing on how LUANAR could build quality assurance into every step of the student experience.

“The idea is that everyone- students, potential students, employers and everyone involved should see ODL from LUANAR as a highly respected path to achieving relevant and useful qualifications,” said Childs.


Written By Patricia Nkhoma