Welcome to the inaugural issue of AWB Quarterly Update! In celebration of the great work underway at AWB, we are pleased to launch this new initiative on International Day for Education. In this and subsequent issues, you will read about one of AWB’s ongoing or recently completed projects and meet one of our amazing volunteers.
We hope you will enjoy reading about our work and volunteers. If you are interested in learning more about AWB’s work, mission and projects, please see our website at www.awb-usf.org or contact us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest and support!
Volunteer Profile – Kathleen Matheos, University of Manitoba
Kathleen is the Director of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Development (CHERD) within Extended Education at the University of Manitoba. She holds an adjunct position in the Faculty of Education, in the area of Adult and Post-secondary education, and has taught graduate courses and supervised graduate students. She holds a doctorate from University of Kent at Canterbury in Education (Higher/Continuing).
AWB volunteers are dedicated academics who collaborate with their colleagues at AWB’s partner institutions in low- and middle-income countries – giving generously of their time and efforts – to share expertise through working on projects across a variety of objectives and disciplines.
Professor Kathleen Matheos’ current experience as an AWB volunteer involves participating as a key member of an AWB volunteer team working collaboratively with colleagues from the University of Agriculture – Faisalabad (UAF) in Pakistan with a project goal of transforming pedagogy towards student centered learning at UAF.
This AWB project was proposed by faculty members at UAF and began in May 2023. Kathleen, and AWB’s team of volunteers recruited from across Canada – Wenona Partridge (University of Saskatchewan); Cynthia Korpan (University of Victoria); Joan Sharp (Simon Fraser University) – have worked tirelessly with their colleagues over the last 18 months. Kathleen has participated as an invaluable AWB volunteer on multiple projects – onsite working visits with Aga Khan University in Kenya, and virtually with the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Pakistan.
Of her work as an AWB volunteer, Kathleen says “it is a wonderful and enriching experience to work with people committed to higher education from around the world. While each higher education system is unique there are many more similarities with opportunities and challenges we face.”
Kathleen was previously the Associate Dean, Extended Education, University of Manitoba, the Program Coordinator for the Collaboration for Online Higher Education Research (COHERE), and the President of the Canadian Society for the Studies in Higher Education (CSSHE).
Academics Without Borders deeply appreciates the work of Kathleen and all AWB Volunteers.
