Open University Malaysia is an institution member of the UNITWIN Cooperation Programme under the title, “Sharing Knowledge and Experiences of Distance Education in Higher Education”. The 1st UNESCO UNITWIN Work Conference was held from 18th to 19th January 2017. The programme is well supported by Korea’s Ministry of Education through Korea National Open University (KNOU). KNOU has organised several initiatives over the years including training and support for the promotion of Global Citizenship Education known as GCED.
This year, KNOU hosted the 2023 UNESCO-UNITWIN Training Program from July 10 to July 14, 2023 that focused on Digital Literacy for e-Learning. This programme had a significant mission to equip both educators and learners with essential digital skills. It brought together four UNITWIN Network member institutions: Hanoi Open University (Vietnam), Tribhuvan University (Nepal), Open University Malaysia (OUM), and Mongolian University of Science and Technology (Mongolia). Each of these universities sent two representatives, totalling eight participants. Their common goal was to enrich their knowledge and expertise in the field of digital literacy. The comprehensive training program covered a broad spectrum of topics, ranging from Scratch, Micro:bit, App Inventor, Python, to Video Editing. It provided participants with an in-depth understanding of contemporary digital tools and programming languages.
Among the attendees were OUM’s Academic Staff, Dr. Harvinder Kaur and Dr. Loo Fung Lan who found that their involvement in this programme has been invaluable, offering them insights into cutting-edge educational technologies and innovative approaches. The knowledge and skills gained during this training program hold tremendous potential for OUM. In light of what was learned, OUM is gearing up to host its training programme on Scratch and Micro:bit in December 2023. This initiative is designed to empower OUM’s students with the digital literacy skills necessary to thrive in a world increasingly driven by technology. In a generous move, KNOU agreed to provide Micro:bit toolboxes for training sessions to be held at the participating universities.
The importance of digital literacy and artificial intelligence (AI) competencies cannot be overstated in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Nations worldwide are striving to enhance their global competitiveness in software development and AI. These fields are poised to shape the future and act as driving forces for innovation, economic growth, and societal advancement. Preparing learners with these essential skills helps mitigate uncertainties in an ever-changing world and positions them to thrive in the digital age.
The 2023 UNESCO-UNITWIN Training Program was a pivotal moment for educators and institutions alike. It brought together universities from diverse regions to empower educators with the digital literacy skills needed to excel in the 21st century.
by Harvinder Kaur Dharam Singh