Prof. Ojat Darojat, M.Bus., Ph.D., as the Rector of Universitas Terbuka (UT) who also serves as President of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) for the period 2023-2025, accompanied by Mr. Rahmat Budiman, S.S., M.Hum., Ph.D., as Secretary General, chaired the annual meeting of AAOU General Body Members following the previous day’s annual meeting of AAOU Executive Committee Members at the Istanbul University Rectorate Building, Türkiye. In his opening remarks, Prof. Ojat expressed his appreciation to the attending members and presented an annual report related to the targets and activities that had been organized by AAOU during 2023.

As showcased in his first-year report as AAOU President for the second consecutive term, Prof. Ojat has made a breakthrough in AAOU’s journey and development as an organization that brings together 44 full members and 15 associate members of higher education institutions and educational organizations from the Asian Region and some from outside Asia. One notable milestone was initiating the monthly AAOU Webinar Series since the beginning of 2023, featuring key speakers from each AAOU member and also from relevant industries in distance higher education.

At the meeting, the AAOU President also invited and encouraged all members to collaborate and contribute to the writing of the book “Asian Association of Open Universities: Reflections and Insights of Open Education in Asia,” which was started in 2023. This book will describe the history of AAOU’s journey since it was established by the founders in early 1986–1987, as it developed into a large organization and made a positive impact on the world of open and distance higher education in the Asian region as it is today. Other agendas discussed in the Executive Committee and General Body Members meetings included membership issues, a plan to pilot quality assurance services based on AAOU standards, collaborative research programs, awards for notable figures in open and distance higher education in the Asian Region, and a decision on the host for the 38th AAOU International Annual Conference in 2024, which will be held in the city of Islamabad, Pakistan, with the host being Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). In conclusion, Prof. Ojat emphasized the importance of solidity and the active participation of every member in achieving AAOU’s future targets and agendas.