Conference 14: "Developing Open Learning and Distance Learning in Universities", Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, March 2014

Conference 14: "Developing Open Learning and Distance Learning in Universities", Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, March 2014

The conference issued a number of recommendations addressed to the Arab states concerning attention to open learning and distance education, as well as to set legislation and policies for expanding open learning and distance education and to work on finding mechanisms for cooperation and coordination among them; to consider the mutual recognition and accreditation of the academic degrees and certificates issued by the branches of the Arab Open University; it also recommended integrating e-learning techniques into curricula and education departments across all tracks of university education; likewise, giving attention to consolidating the foundations and skills of scientific research among youth and the rising generation. It recommended that Arab universities give special attention to teaching and learning the Arabic language and benefiting from distance learning. At the level of ALECSO, the recommendations centred on conducting comparative studies between the outputs of open learning and formal education to determine the extent of their alignment with the labour market; preparing studies and regional and global benchmark comparisons of the mechanisms for accrediting academic qualifications issued by open learning and distance education institutions; working on effective coordination among open learning and distance education institutions, leading to the adoption of common standards and mechanisms for academic qualifications in the Arab world; and cooperating with the competent authorities in the Arab states to unify the terminology related to the concepts of e-learning, open learning and distance education. The conference also addressed a call to the ministries of higher education and scientific research in the Arab world to submit a comprehensive report on the developments and achievements they realised during the period between 1981 and 2013. The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States and ALECSO were called upon to take the required measures to adopt the Arab Strategy for Technical Scientific Research and Innovation.