Some 22 academics involved in the BUKA (Better Universities and Knowledge for All) project, hailing from seven partner institutions, visited the WOU main campus on 7 February 2020.  

On hand to welcome them was fellow participant and leader of the WOU research team, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & Educational Technology) Prof Zoraini Wati Abas. The guests, along with several WOU academics and academic support staff, were briefed on the research project they are jointly undertaking titled Advancing Equity and Access to Higher Education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) by project leader Dr Marko Teräs.  

Dr Teräs, who is with the School of Pedagogical Innovations at Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), Finland, spoke on the increasing role of ODL in the globally networked world. He also highlighted how WOU in particular can benefit from the project through transfer of technology and capacity-building.  

Accompanying him were his colleagues from TAMK – project specialist Paula Ranne, Principal Lecturer Dr Hanna Teräs, and Senior Lecturer Esa Kujansuu.  

The other international participants included Chancellor Prof Sukarno Tanggol, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development/Director for International Affairs, Prof Gaudencio Jr Petalcorin, and College of Education Dean, Dr Amelia Buan from Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT); and Prof Daryono, Head of Research and Innovation Centre from Universitas Terbuka of Indonesia.  

Dublin City University was represented by Prof Mark Brown, Director of National Institute of Digital Learning, and Dr James Brunton, who is its Programme Chair/Director.