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 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 AWB volunteer on multiple projects – with Aga Khan University in Kenya, and the Fatima Jinnah Women University in Pakistan – her invaluable work as an AWB volunteer has involved both remote-based and onsite working visits.
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 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).
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.
