International Open University

The International Open University (IOU) is a private distance education university headquartered in Kanifing, The Gambia. It was founded as the Islamic Online University by Bilal Philips in 2007 and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees.

International Open University
Former names
Islamic Online University
MottoChanging the Nation Through Education
TypePrivate
Established2007
ChancellorBilal Philips
Vice-ChancellorCherno Omar Barry
Students500,000
Address
21 Kanifing Mosque Road, P.O. Box 2340, Kanifing South, KMC, The Gambia
CampusOnline
Websitehttp://iou.edu.gm/

Background

Initially established in 2001,[1] the program shut down due to technical difficulties. In April 2007, the IOU reopened under the name Islamic Online University, with a greater offering of completely free short courses.[1] On January 13, 2020, it was announced through the IOU's official Facebook page that the institution's name has been changed to the International Open University.[2][3]

Ernest Bai Koroma, the chancellor of the University of Sierra Leone (USL) welcomed the idea of establishing the IOU type Islamic institution.[4] In 2014, the Niger State Government paid the International Open University's Bachelor of Arts school fees for 35 students that registered from the state.[1]

The International Open University is amongst the most ethnically diverse universities in the world, having students from over 250 countries (year 2018).[5]

In 2018, the International Open University's programs were ranked among the six best online Middle Eastern Studies programs by Successful Student,[6] although by June 2020 they had been removed from this list.[7]

Tuition

The International Open University is a tuition-free institution. However, a very modest registration fee is charged per semester, which is based on the human development index and thus varies from country to country.[8][9] Those who cannot afford the registration fees, may apply for scholarships. The IOU has launched a project to distribute one million scholarships to African youths.[10]

Affiliations

The International Open University is a full member of Association of African Universities,[11] approved member of International Council for Open and Distance Education,[12] African Quality Assurance Network (AfriQAN), Association of Quality Assurance Agencies of the Islamic World (IQA), associate member of International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies,[13] Asian Association of Open Universities,[14] as well as a member of International Council of Islamic Finance Educators (ICIFE) and a member of the Talloires Network.[15]

Research

The International Open University engages in research. The IOU has launched a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal, "Journal of Integrated Sciences", with the first issue published in 2019. [16]

Professor Dr. G. Hussein Rassool, the dean for the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Sciences, head of the Department of Psychology, Director of Research and Publications, Professor of Islamic Psychology at the International Open University, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, is editor-in-chief of the journal.[17][18]

References
  1. "Niger State Government Pays Islamic Online University BA Fees for 35 Students". Niger Times. March 2014. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
  2. "Islamic Online University - IOU". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-01-13.
  3. onedeentech (2019-02-12). "IOU launches one million scholarship program in Sierra Leone". Sierra Leone Islamic Web. Retrieved 2020-01-18.
  4. "Chancellor of IOU meets Chancellor of USL". Sierra Express. December 12, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2014. Retrieved May 17, 2014.
  5. "Islamic Online University Signs Agreement with FBC". ayvnewspaper.com. Retrieved 2019-04-10.
  6. "6 Best Online Middle Eastern Studies Programs". 2018-03-13.
  7. "Best Online Middle Eastern Studies Programs". 2018-03-13. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  8. http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/free-tuition-degrees-at-islamic-online-university-iou
  9. "Islamic Online University (Gambia)". The Talloires Network. 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  10. "Education centres for the under privileged". Rising Sun Lenasia. 2018-07-24. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  11. "Member in focus". Association of African Universities. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  12. "ICDE Institutional Members". ICDE. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  13. "Islamic Online University | INQAAHE". www.inqaahe.org. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  14. "Associate Members". Asian Association of Open Universities. 2017-02-09. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  15. "Islamic Online University (Gambia)". The Talloires Network. 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  16. "About the Journal | Journal of Integrated Sciences". jis.iou.edu.gm. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  17. "G. Hussein Rassool". www.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  18. "Dr G Hussein Rassool Biography". crescent-of-care. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
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