About the Networks
Quality Assurance and Improvement (QAI_net)
The aim of the QAI_net is to continually improve upon and promote the highest quality academic programmes at AKU through regular structured periodic reviews. In order to achieve the goal, the QAI_net provides support, guidance, training and capacity building for the implementation of the University-wide academic quality framework.
The strategic objectives of the QAI_net are to:
Instill a culture for quality improvement of academic programmes at AKU.
Build capacity to support quality enhancement within entities.
Harmonise the variety of quality assurance and improvement processes being used across AKU.
Teaching and Learning (TL_net)
TL_net aims to promote excellence in teaching to enhance the student learning experience by providing services, programmes and support to faculty to develop their teaching practice.
Through the TL_net, faculty enhance their teaching with technology and blended learning.
Provide teaching and learning support to faculty.
Develop communities of practice around teaching excellence.
Promote the scholarship of teaching and learning .
Enable evaluation, accountability and outreach on teaching and learning that is “of and for the developing world.
Blended and Digital Learning (BDL_net)
AKU Network of Blended and Digital Learning (BDL_Net) is an integral part of the TL_net. Through its various initiatives, BDL_net enables the development and application of information and communications technologies and associated pedagogies to an increasing spectrum of academic programs across AKU. BDL_Net supports a range of approaches, from applying digital learning software to on-campus courses, through blended (online/in-person teaching), to purely online courses.
BDL_net has three inter-linked strategic objectives:
Faculty Development: To build capacity of AKU faculty and staff members to teach with technology.
Operational Support: To develop and implement a service model to support faculty members' ongoing use of technology in teaching.
Research and Innovation: To conduct and support research, innovation, monitoring and evaluation, and dissemination activities in the area of teaching with technology.
Blended Learning (BL)
Blended Learning is a mode of learning that integrates the best pedagogical aspects of both face-to-face learning and online learning. At AKU, any course that has between 30% -70% online learning is counted as a blended learning course. For example, a sixteen-week course with a minimum of five-weeks of online learning would be a blended learning course. The BDL_net supports faculty members and academic entities to design, develop, offer and evaluate courses through blended learning approaches.
Digital Teaching and Learning (DTL)
The network enables faculty members to use technology to support or enhance in-class teaching. This might involve the use of software (e.g., Power Point, simulations, interactive videos) or hardware (i.e., interactive whiteboards, 3D screens, collaboration devices, clickers) to illustrate complex concepts in F2F lectures/ tutorials or problem-based learning sessions. DTL also supports the flipped classrooms at AKU.
