1MAS Beneficiaries from Pemba participating curriculum development initiative as part of their community service

Amongst the beneficiaries of 1MAS from Pemba (Tanzania) participating the initiative of developing curriculums as part of their community service. This initiative is coordinated by MIA and is aiming to develop programs that will be beneficial to Tanzania’s communities.
In Shaa Allah upon the completion of this initiative, it will create employment opportunities for our IOU graduates as well.

7th International Conference on Integrated Sciences ICIS 2025 : Call for Papers

The International Open University (IOU) and Eastern University (EU) Bangladesh, are jointly organizing a hybrid conference Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Science, Business, and Islamic Paradigms on 25, 26 October 2025.
AREAS OF RESEARCH
Arabic Language and Literature Education
Agricultural Economics Islamic Banking and Economics
Business Administration Islamic Studies
Civil Engineering Islamic Law
Computer Science and Engineering Law
Electronic and Electrical Engineering Life Sciences Information and Communication Technology Natural Sciences Education Mathematics
Multi-disciplinary areas** ** Includes (but not limited to): Academic Leadership, Agriculture, Bioinformatics, Climate Change, Conflict Resolution, Data Science, Disability Management, Disaster Management, Feminism, Gender, Human Development, Human Rights, Public Health, Public Policy, Renewable Energy, Special Needs Education, Supply Chain, Sustainable Development, Tourism, and Women’s Studies.
Business Cases and Poster presentations
REGISTRATION FEES

SCHEDULE25TH OCTOBEROpening Session and In-person Paper PresentationPAPER SUBMISSION
To submit your abstract or full paper, please visit https://conference.iou.edu.gm/ submission/ or email conference-iou@iou.edu.gm & copy to icis@easternuni.edu.bd
Guidelines: https://jis.iou.edu.gm/index.php/JIS/about/submissions#authorGuidelines
IMPORTANT DATES
Abstract Submission: 15 September 2025
Accepted Abstract: 18 September 2025
Full Paper Submission Due: 10 October 2025
Notification oF Acceptance: 30 September 2025
Camera Ready Paper: 15 October 2025
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY
Full papers submitted to 7th ICIS are subject to double blind peer review and will be published in the Journal of Integrated Sciences (a multidisciplinary publication oF IOU) at https://jis.iou.edu.gm/ and the Eastern University Journal (subject to the reviewers’ recommendations).
BEST PAPER AWARDS
The Best Paper Award and the Best Student Paper Award (both valued at US $100 or equivalent) will be conferred at the conference.
To qualify for the awards, the author must submit a full paper that will be presented at the conference.
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE AWARDS
All researchers from academia are eligible to participate in this competition (with the exception of committee members of the 7th ICIS Conference). Ten participants will be selected for awards (5 from Bangladesh and 5 from abroad). The toppers will be given a token monetary award and a certificate, and all participants will be given Research Excellence Award certificates.
6th IOUCRIS 2025: Call for papers
The 6th International Open University Conference on Research and Integrated Sciences (IOUCRIS) is an online conference where IOU is the proud organizer. IOUCRIS aims to provide an opportunity for researchers, academics, and practitioners worldwide to discuss and share the contemporary research issues of Integrated Sciences.
The proposed conference provides an outlet for quality research in all areas of Social Sciences, Islamic Science, and Pure Sciences. The conference welcomes empirical research as well as theoretical/conceptual research papers having the potential for field applications and in-depth literature reviews, predominantly from Islamic perspectives.
Important dates:
Abstracts and Full paper submission: 20 April 2025
Acceptance Notification: 25 April 2025
For further details please visit the 6th IOUCRIS 2025 conference website: https://conference.iou.edu.gm
Vice President of The Gambia awarded Honoris Causa Doctorate by IOU

Pictures courtesy: Office of the Vice President – The Gambia
His Excellency Mohammed BS Jallow, Vice President of The Gambia, was awarded an Honoris Causa Doctorate in Philosophy of Education by the International Open University.
The award was presented during a special ceremony at the Vice President’s conference room at the State House, as a testament to His Excellency’s outstanding contributions to the development of education in the country, implementation of key national education policies, fostering cross-border cooperation in education, and championing equitable learning opportunities for all.

The honorary doctorate was officially conferred during the 11th IOU Convocation Ceremony held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel, Jama Hall. In his acceptance speech read on his behalf by Honourable Babucarr Ousmiala Joof, the minister for Trade, Regional Integration, Industry and Employment, VP Jallow expressed his deep gratitude for the recognition, stating:
“Standing here today, I am deeply humbled and honored to accept the Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa. This recognition is not merely a personal milestone but a tribute to all those who have dedicated themselves to advancing education and shaping future generations. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and the leadership of IOU for bestowing this esteemed honor upon me. I dedicate this recognition to educators, mentors, and students who tirelessly strive for academic excellence and the betterment of humanity. May this honor serve as a reminder of our shared responsibility to make education a beacon of hope, empowerment, and transformation.”
The conferment of this honorary doctorate reaffirms IOU’s commitment to recognizing exemplary leadership in education and governance. It further highlights the university’s mission of advancing knowledge, fostering global education accessibility, and nurturing individuals who drive transformative change.
Source: IOU
IOU officials meet International Association of Universities representative


Source: The International Open University (IOU)
Invitation: IOU 11th Online Convocation Ceremony

This year 777 students from 61 countries are graduating in diverse fields, including Islamic Studies, Psychology, Arabic Language and Linguistics, Education, Information Technology, Business Administration, Islamic Economics, Banking, and Finance.
Several students are also graduating from the IOU Ijazah Program, Qur’an Memorization Program, and Tajweed Intensive Course offered by the Global Qur’an Memorization Center (GQMC).
Date: Saturday 11 January, 2025
Time: 1 PM UTC (4 PM EAST AFRICAN TIME)
IOU students from Zanzibar eligible for interest-free loans from ZHESLB

Students from Zanzibar registered with the International Open University (IOU) can now be included among the beneficiaries of interest-free loans from the Zanzibar Higher Education Students Loans Board (ZHESLB).
ZHESLB was established through Act No. 3 of 2011 and started operations in August 2011 as an autonomous institution. The Board initiated payment and repayment of Higher Education loans from graduate students and reports to the Minister of Education in Zanzibar.
In 2024, an Act was passed to repeal the Zanzibar Higher Education Loans Board Act, no. 3 of 2011 and enact the Zanzibar Higher Education Students’ Loans board (ZHESLB) Act to provide financial assistance to students and other related matters. This Act is cited as the Zanzibar Higher Education Students’ Loans Board Act No. 2 of 2024 and started operations on March 2024.
ZHESLB has approved and listed the International Open University (IOU) as one of the overseas academic institutions, where its students will benefit from ZHESLB-approved diploma/Associate Degree to Ph.D. levels.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR IOU STUDENTS
- Applicant be Zanzibaris and must have Zanzibar ID
- Applicant must have a No Objection Certificate from TCU
- O-LEVEL, A-Level Student number or AVN from NACTE
Higher Education Week – Pemba 2024 Highlights







