Empowering Women Through Education at Asian University for Women
Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh aims to educate and empower a new generation of female leaders in Asia. With about 900 students from diverse backgrounds, AUW offers various programs to support underserved communities. Despite challenges like limited IT infrastructure and the impact of the pandemic on mental health, AUW remains committed to providing quality education and leadership opportunities for women in the region.
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Asian University for Women: Goals, Challenges and Opportunities (Screen reader-friendly slides DRAFT) Dr Tiffany Cone Associate Dean of Core Program, Professor of Cultural Anthropology Asian University for Women, Chittagong, Bangladesh World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
AUW mission AUW mission Asian University for Women (AUW) is an independent, international university in Chittagong, Bangladesh seeking to educate a new generation of female leaders in Asia. It emphasises the importance of service and leadership and aims to give access to underserved communities of women across the region. AUW has approximately 900 students enrolled from 19 countries across Asia and the Middle East (including Afghanistan, Yemen, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan). 20% of the students pay fees (partial or full). The rest of the students are on full undergraduate donor-funded scholarships. World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series #WAHED24 Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
AUW Programs AUW Programs Pathways for Promise (Pre Pathways for Promise (Pre- -Access 1 year program): sector (RMG), Rohingya Madrasa (Islamic School), Tea Estates, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen. Provides foundational English language and Maths skills. Access Academy (Pre Access Academy (Pre- -UG Foundation Studies 1 year program): UG Foundation Studies 1 year program): English, Maths, History, Sciences and Physical Education Undergraduate (3 year): Undergraduate (3 year): Public Health, Environmental Science, Bioinformatics, Economics, Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPE) Access 1 year program): Garment Factory World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series #WAHED24 Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
Impact of the pandemic Impact of the pandemic Accessibility: Accessibility: IT Access and reliable electricity for students in rural Bangladesh and remote areas of other countries such as Afghanistan is an ongoing and difficult problem. Online Learning and Teaching: Online Learning and Teaching: Challenges of rapid transition to online learning with limited IT infrastructure and opportunities for training, and accommodating students and faculty across multiple time zones. Having to plan according to an ever-changing timeline (initially two weeks - now through to end of Spring at least). Impacts on learning outcomes - students feel unsure that they are learning effectively in an online environment, can be harder for faculty to gauge engagement and/or understanding. Mental Health: Mental Health: impacts on mental health of both students and faculty (loss of community, inability to know your class, isolation, anxiety/depression and panic attacks, in lockdown in the midst of difficult family situations) World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series #WAHED24 Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
Adaptations and opportunities Adaptations and opportunities Accessibility: Accessibility: providing data packs to students in rural Bangladesh and Afghanistan, setting up remote learning hubs in available support spaces Mental Health: Mental Health: forced us to re-think what we do to foster well-being and community, especially with such a scattered community of students and faculty across the world launched a Well-Being Series to address ongoing anxiety and stress for students (two open sessions a week as well as private counselling sessions) working with student clubs as such Art, Music, Mental Health clubs to do collaborative well-being events World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series #WAHED24 Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
Online Learning and Teaching: Online Learning and Teaching: Improving techniques as time moves on, investing in our IT infrastructure and constantly reviewing our effective use of software (Zoom, Canvas, Google) Snack Series professional development workshops with teaching staff (covering techniques and strategies for online teaching) Some faculty and students really enjoy online teaching and find that students are more engaged in the digital realm. Online space also allow for more effective forms of feedback (ie. for writing classes) in some cases. Use of polls, reactions, breakout rooms, chat function all appeal to younger generation. Re Re- -imagining ourselves in regards to Distance Learning: imagining ourselves in regards to Distance Learning: the shift to online teaching has led us to critically reflect on the way we ve been teaching traditionally , we are re- orientating our overall approach so that it is blended, flexible and responsive to the digital divide (synchronous and asynchronous options) World Access to Higher Education Day Global Conference Series #WAHED24 Access and Success for Marginalised Groups in Asian Higher Education 17 November, 2020
