Page 23 - Open and Distance Education In Asia : Good Practice From AAOU Members

Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) 3

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KNOU has been contributing to the lifelong education
system with its foundation philosophy to ‘realizing a
lifelong learning society by providing the opportunity

of higher education through a distance learning’.

universities. In addition, a cyber university which is to become “The Hub University of
project, initiated by the Ministry of Education Knowledge Network that is Ushering in the
in 2018 as a means of “content development Age of Wisdom”.
to increase student competencies over the
lifecycle”, was also expanded to a project The foundation of KNOU in 1972 was deemed
aimed at fostering innovation in online to be an innovative event and an “academic
university competencies in education in revolution” that fundamentally transformed
2020. Currently, cyber universities focus on the preexisting college education’s
enhancing the distance education system to philosophy, system, and methods. The
increase social capabilities of adult learners emergence of KNOU significantly changed the
and to enhance industrial personnel’s AI traditional concept of college students. Adult
competencies in creative convergence. learners involved in both work(housework)
and study started playing a leading role in
As the first national open university in college. As the open admission system applied
Korea, KNOU has been contributing to the with the document screening process, the
lifelong education system with its foundation door to college opened up for adults beyond
philosophy to ‘realizing a lifelong learning college-age. KNOU established a foundation
society by providing the opportunity of higher for lifelong education by extending the rights
education through a distance learning’. KNOU for learning over a lifetime and providing
aims to: (1) provide opportunities for higher learning opportunities to people of all social
education, (2) improve education levels of classes.
Korean citizens, (3) develop and expand adult
education, and (4) cultivate talent in many
fields. To commemorate its 50th anniversary
in 2022, KNOU has established the new vision

Korea National Open University (KNOU)