International Collaboration: AIOU Researcher Joins AAOU Staff Exchange Fellowship 2023 at UT

Universitas Terbuka (UT), as a member of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU), has resumed the AAOU Staff Exchange Fellowship 2023 program after a hiatus of 3 years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. AAOU, an organization that brings together various open universities in the Asian region, plays a vital role in encouraging its members to share knowledge, engage in research, contribute to the community, and exchange experiences among both staff and students. 

The AAOU Staff Exchange Fellowship 2023 at UT is attended by four research faculty members originating from Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Pakistan, and the Open University of China (OUC), China. On August 21, 2023, UT welcomes the arrival of a research faculty member, Dr. Muhammad Ajmal Chaudry from AIOU – Pakistan, who will be conducting research on the topic "Feasibility of Blockchain Technology for Open Distance Learning at Open University of Indonesia" for a period of 2 weeks. During his research stay at UT, Dr. Ajmal will be accompanied by a researcher from UT, Dr. Adhi Susilo, M.Biotech, from the Faculty of Science and Technology. 

The event began with a welcoming remarks from Prof. Dra. Dewi Artati Padmo Putri, M.A., Ph.D., the Chairperson of UT's Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), followed by remarks from Prof. Daryono, S.H., M.A., Ph.D., the Head of UT’s Center for Research and Innovation in Distance Higher Education (PRI PTJJ), who is also the host of this event. Before the conclusion, Dr. Ajmal provided an overview of AIOU and shared the planned research activities for the upcoming two weeks at UT. 

With the implementation of the AAOU Staff Exchange Fellowship 2023 at UT, it is hoped to positively impact the development of international research collaboration, ultimately leading to the exchange and growth of experiences and knowledge among researchers from both universities.