Korea National Open University (KNOU, President Song-hwan Ko) successfully hosted the 2026 OUM Benchmarking Program on February 4, 2026 welcoming a 35-member leadership delegation from Open University Malaysia (OUM), led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Yon Rosli Daud. The event marked the 20th anniversary of the partnership first established between the two institutions in 2005.

The program began with a VIP tea meeting between President Song-hwan Ko and the OUM delegation, where participants reviewed the future direction of distance education and reaffirmed their bilateral partnership. 

In the morning session, Dean of the Office of International Affairs Prof. Jae-hyung Kim noted in his welcome address, "We are very proud that the success of the benchmarking visit conducted from November 27 to 28, 2024 is translating into tangible infrastructure innovations at OUM." Dr. Ivy Eunhee Lee, Program Specialist of the Office of International Affairs, served as moderator for the entire session, introducing both institutions to the delegation. 

The delegation also toured KNOU's Digital Media Center (DMC), observing its high-definition TV and web studios. OUM is currently constructing advanced studio and practice facilities modeled after KNOU's DMC, with completion expected in the first half of 2026.

The afternoon session featured presentations on OUM's educational innovations, including Dean Raziana Che Aziz's introduction of OUM's teaching and assessment framework and Center Director Zahari Hamidon's presentation of myINSPIRE, a learning management system developed through benchmarking of KNOU.

The highlight of the session was the introduction of a new academic program at KNOU — the Global Open Major Program, a comprehensive pathway supporting international learners from online study in their home country through transfer to Korean national universities and employment settlement — presented by Dr. Chang-Bong Lee, Team Head of the Korean Studies Program Operations Team.

President Song-hwan Ko remarked, "This visit confirmed that KNOU's distance education model is driving real change in global educational settings. We will continue to advance the Korean model of distance education together with the world, including through the UNESCO UNITWIN program."

Related article: [KNOU Weekly] OUM Leadership Delegation Benchmarking Program Concludes Successfully