A two-man delegation from the ISCED Open University of Mozambique, led by its Rector, Prof. Martins Dos Santos Vilanculous Laita, has paid a courtesy visit to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

ISCED (translated as Open University Institute of Sciences and Distance Education) is a Mozambican private higher education institution dedicated exclusively to open and distance education and was established in 2014. 

The visit, which took place on Thursday, September 12, 2024   at the university headquarters, was aimed at exploring potential collaborations between the two institutions, particularly in the area of Open and Distance Learning.

The delegation was received by NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who emphasised on the importance of strategic partnerships in promoting educational development across Africa.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Peters highlighted that such collaborations are critical to advancing the reach and quality of education in the region.

He noted that both institutions stand to benefit from joint student programmes and the development of dual-degree offerings, which NOUN is working to establish with other foreign open and distance learning institutions.

In addition to the duo’s meeting with the Vice-Chancellor, the visiting delegation was introduced to several directorates within NOUN to gain insights into the university’s operational strategies.

One of the key stops was NOUN’s library system, where the delegation met with University Librarian, Prof. Angela Okpala, who provided an extensive briefing on the structure and services of the university’s library network, noting that NOUN operates a total of 44 libraries spread across its various study centres nationwide.

According to Okpala, this wide-reaching library infrastructure plays a crucial role in supporting the institution’s academic programmes and student success.

To further deepen the visitors’ understanding of NOUN’s educational approach, the delegation, accompanied by Mrs. Omorogieva Ileka, Director, Directorate of Advancement and Linkages of NOUN, visited the university’s model study centre located in Dutse Alhaji, Abuja.

They were welcomed by the centre director, Prof. Nebath Tanglang, and his team.

During the visit, the delegation toured key facilities, including the electronic examination hall, the traditional pen-and-paper examination hall, an incubation centre, and a conference hall.

The visit concluded with both parties expressing optimism about the future of the collaboration and a commitment to further discussions.