Beijing, China — October 20–23, 2025. The 38^th Annual Conference 2025 of the Asian Association of Open Universities (AAOU) was successfully held in Beijing, hosted by the Open University of China (OUC). The four-day conference brought together leaders, scholars, and practitioners in open and distance education from across Asia and beyond, united under the theme “Transforming ODL for a Sustainable Lifelong Learning Society.”

The conference began on Monday, October 20, with the 39^th AAOU Executive Committee (EC) Meeting, chaired by Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto, President of AAOU and Rector of Universitas Terbuka (UT), and moderated by Prof. Rahmat Budiman, Ph.D., Secretary-General of AAOU and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of UT. The EC meeting, attended exclusively by committee members, deliberated on 15+1 strategic agenda items concerning governance, partnerships, quality assurance, and the association’s future directions. Prominent members included:

• Prof. Masaya Iwanaga, President, The Open University of Japan (OUJ)
• Prof. Ko Songhwan, President, Korea National Open University (KNOU)
• Prof. Li Kam Cheong, Dean, School of Open Learning, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU)
• Dr. Joane V. Serrano, Chancellor, University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU)
• Prof. Dr. Lily Chan, Vice Chancellor, Wawasan Open , Malaysia (WOU)
• Prof. Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, President, Open University Malaysia (OUM)
• Dr. Zahid Majeed, representing Allama Iqbal Open University, Pakistan (AIOU)

Later in the afternoon, participants attended a workshop on “Write to Publish: Strategies for High-Impact Academic Papers”, delivered by Prof. Kam-Cheong Li (HKMU) and moderated by Prof. Du Ruo (OUC). The session offered valuable insights into academic writing and publishing strategies for open education researchers.

The Opening Ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, set the stage for the conference, graced by distinguished speakers:

1. Mr. Ren Youqun, Vice Minister of Education of China
2. Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto, Rector of Universitas Terbuka and President of AAOU
3. Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director, UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia
4. Ms. Torunn Gjelsvik, Secretary-General, ICDE (virtually)

In his opening remarks, Prof. Muktiyanto highlighted AAOU’s commitment to quality assurance, digital innovation, and collaborationin open and distance education, emphasizing that digital intelligence must drive equity and sustainability across Asia’s learning ecosystems.

The Keynote Sessions featured global experts addressing the transformative power of AI, lifelong learning, and intergenerational education:

• Dr. Wang Qiming (OUC): “Empowering the Sustainable Development of Open Education with Digital Intelligence”
• Prof. François Vellas (AIUTA): “Achievements and International Trends of Education for Older Adults”
• Prof. Bart Rienties (OUUK): “AI and Digital Assistance to Transform Open Universities”
• Prof. Bernhard Schmidt-Hertha (LMU Munich): “Intergenerational Education: Practices and Global Trends”
• Prof. Kam-Cheong Li (HKMU): “Championing Digital Transformation in Lifelong Learning”
• Mr. Chen Hongbin (IFLYTEK): “AI-Empowered Open and Distance Education: Paradigm Shifts and Technological Breakthroughs”

In the afternoon, the AAOU Accreditation Board Meeting was held, moderated by Prof. Dr. Melinda Dela Peña Bandalaria (UPOU), Prof. KC Li (HKMU), and Prof. Dr. Paulina Pannen (UT), with a focus on selecting new accreditors. Parallel presentation sessions followed, featuring researchers from various countries.

On Wednesday, October 22, parallel sessions and guided tours of the OUC Headquarters allowed participants to experience China’s advancements in open education infrastructure and programs. In the afternoon, the AAOU General Body Meeting convened, presided over by Prof. Muktiyanto, to discuss 15 + 1 agenda items, including the election of the next AAOU President for the 2026–2028 term, as UT’s leadership of two consecutive successful terms (2020–2025) draws to a close. The GB Meeting agreed by acclamation to have Dr. Wang Qiming (OUC President) as the new AAOU President.

The final day, Thursday, October 23, opened with a Panel Discussion Forum moderated by Dr. Matthew Yeung (HKMU), featuring academic leaders from across Asia, including:

• Prof. Li Song, OUC
• Prof. Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, OUM
• Prof. Dr. Yusuf Adiguzel, Anadolu University
• Prof. Dr. Joane Serrano, UPOU
• Dr. Zahid Majeed, AIOU
• Dr. Dinh Tuan Long, Hanoi Open University
• Prof. Suman Kumar Verma, University of Delhi

The Closing Ceremony celebrated several milestones:

1. Launching of the Book on the History of AAOU, officiated by Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto
2. Accreditation Certificate Awarding to UPOU, announced by Prof. Rahmat Budiman and awarded by Prof. Muktiyanto
3. AAOU Awards Ceremony, recognizing excellence in research and innovation
4. Announcement of the Newly Elected AAOU President and EC Members
5. Inaugural Address by the new AAOU President – Dr. Wang Qiming
6. Presentation of the 39^th AAOU Conference Host Video
7. Closing Remarks by Madam Fan Xianrui, Vice President of OUC

The 38^th AAOU Annual Conference reaffirmed the collective commitment of Asian open universities to foster collaboration, embrace digital transformation, and uphold quality, inclusivity, and sustainability in lifelong learning. Under the visionary leadership of UT, AAOU has strengthened its global presence and paved the way for the next era of open education in the region.