Handong UNITWIN Fellowship OpenCourseWare: Expanding Access to Education
The OpenCourseWare (OCW) movement, initiated by MIT in 2001, has revolutionized education by providing free online resources. Since 2011, (HGU), as a UNESCO UNITWIN host, has led the Handong UNITWIN Fellowship OpenCourseWare (HUFOCW) program, supporting professors in developing countries while bridging the digital divide to promote Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4). The program has aided over 900 professors across 20 countries, offering 773 free online courses as of December 2024.
Impact of the HUFOCW Program
1) Empowering Professors in Developing Countries
Each semester, 40 professors receive grant to develop semester-long courses, in local or English languages. The program provides financial support, workshops, and consultations, significantly improving course design, material development, and teaching skills. Surveys of 154 professors showed consistent improvement in their ratings above 4 out of 5. Professor Paul Kahenya of Africa Nazarene University in Kenya, noted, ¡°Through the HUFOCW program, I gained new skills in developing content for digital learning, structuring content, and designing engaging videos.¡± He also added that he has actively shared his HUFOCW experiences and the knowledge he gained to strengthen the capacity of his colleagues during faculty workshops at the university.
2) Expanding Access to Educational Resources
All of the developed lecture materials are freely available on the HUFOCW platform, enabling students to access educational resources anytime and anywhere. During COVID-19, universities in developing countries that lacked online educational resources extensively utilized the HUFOCW platform. Professor Asia Chepkoech Korir of recommended HUFOCW materials when her university lacked an online platform, and she continues to do so today. She advised students to use HUFOCW materials while the school set up an online platform and continued to recommend them even after returning to in-person classes.
Similarly, the promoted HUFOCW during the COVID-19 crisis and ongoing war, acknowledging its role in maintaining education despite disruptions, according to Professor Yurii Butsenko.
The program¡¯s achievements were featured in Joongang Ilbo(July 31, 2024), recognizing HUFOCW¡¯s role in supporting higher education in developing countries. Platform usage has also steadily increased even after the pandemic across various countries, including Kenya, Nepal, the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Uganda, and Ukraine.
According to website usage statistics, international users increased from 6,996 to 11,448, and video views rose from 4,758 to 8,807 between 2022 and 2023. A 2024 survey of 92 platform users revealed that 79.3% use HUFOCW materials at least once a week for classes, review, assignments, and exam preparation, with a high satisfaction rating of 4.6 out of 5 for the materials' usefulness.
3) Looking Ahead: Strengthening OCW for Future Learning
The HUFOCW program continues to evolve, ensuring long-term sustainability and expanding its global reach. This upcoming semester, it is planning to assist about 25 professors in developing online lecture materials while further supporting faculty capacity building, through instructional workshops on integrating IT¡¤AI measures into their educational resources. Additionally, a joint certification pilot with Africa Nazarene University aims to enhance OCW resource utilization, providing the participants with recognized credentials.
Moving forward, HUFOCW remains dedicated to empowering educators, bridging the digital divide, and fostering a global learning community. By continually innovating and adapting to emerging educational needs, the program will further strengthen access to quality education in developing countries, reinforcing its role as a transformative force in higher education.
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