By Centre for Research and Innovation
With the sea breeze of Penang setting a serene backdrop, we proudly hosted the OU5 Retreat 2025 at Angsana Teluk Bahang from 22 to 26 April. The event brought together leaders, researchers, and coordinators from five Asian open universities to discuss current initiatives and set the direction for future collaboration.
OU5 is a strategic alliance of five open universities from ASEAN countries that work together on institutional development and ASEAN-focused research. The member universities are OUM (Malaysia), Universitas Terbuka (UT) from Indonesia, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU), Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) from Thailand, and Hanoi Open University (HOU) from Vietnam.
The leaders of all five institutions participated in person during the Presidents Meeting, which was held concurrently with the research group discussions. As host, OUM President/Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Izanee Awang welcomed the delegates and underscored the importance of the OU5 network in enhancing cooperation, addressing regional educational challenges, and promoting innovation in open and distance learning (ODeL).
At the retreat, five research groups presented and discussed their focus areas for 2025:
- Technology Trends in Education: Nano Learning, Authentic Online Assessment, Gamification, Blockchain and Others (and How AI Will Impact These Technologies)
- Open University Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: A Design in View of Fulfilment of SDG 11
- Roles of ASEAN Open Universities in Enhancing Entrepreneurship and Global Presence
- Roles of Open Universities in STEM Education (Way Forward with a Focus on the State of Gender Equality in ASEAN)
- Student-Lecturer Ratio as a Parameter of Quality in OFDL Context (What Are the Factors that Determine the Quality of Open Universities?)
In addition to the 2025 projects, the Presidents Meeting also finalised the research leaders for the five upcoming OU5 Collaborative Research Projects for 2026, reflecting emerging challenges and priorities in open and distance learning:
Institutional Research
- Al and Quality Assurance (Empowering Al in Promoting ODeL and Tackling Academic Integrity in the Emergence of Al Member)
- Leader: Assoc Prof Dr Nantha Kumar Subramaniam (OUM)
- Strengthening Research Productivity and the Role of OU in Promoting Open Science
- Leader: Dr Charisse Reyes (UPOU)
- Cross-Crediting and Recognition Across ASEAN OUs (with a focus on Language/English proficiency, micro-credentialing, and quality)
- Leader: Prof Rahmat Budiman (UT)
ASEAN Studies Research
- Relationship of Technology and Social Capital
- Leader: Dr Vu Huong Giang (HOU)
- Educational Opportunities for Disadvantaged Groups (Soft skills Training for the Silver Economy and Possibility of the Use of Al in Promoting Educational Opportunities for Disadvantaged Groups)
- Leader: Asst Prof Dr Khajornsak Sitthi (STOU)
The retreat also highlighted the AAOU Accreditation initiative, a proposal for matching research grants, and plans to operationalise microcredential collaboration, all of which were discussed during the Presidents Meeting.
Complementing the academic programme were cultural and CSR activities, including a beach clean-up, the planting of two trees by the Presidents, and a guided heritage tour of Penang. The next OU5 meeting is scheduled to take place in Phuket, Thailand, from 27 to 31 October 2025.
