Open university education and quality of life opportunities in Iraq

Abstract

Since the end of the twentieth century, human societies had changes in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, that didn’t face it before. Perhaps the most important factors of these changes – which are more like a comprehensive revolution– are considered the progress in knowledge and technological fields which made a change in lifestyle and the work for individuals and communities. So it affected the Education in general, and especially in Higher Education: in terms of its concept, patterns, persons who benefits from it, and it also affected the objectives, programs and its acceptance systems.  The Education in general and especially in Open University Education is a basic investment which constitutes the basis of all other investments. It is the focus of attention of all countries, whether developed or developing ones. So they haven’t an alternative solution except accepting the current challenges, trying to predict future challenges and finding the necessary steps before they occur. So the subject of Open Education and its associated aspirations have an important position on the ladder of priorities of intellectual discussion today, especially if these priorities relate to the future of human beings, and the development of professional and future abilities. Hence, this study represents a research attempt to clarify the relationship between the Open University Education and quality of life opportunities. As the Education must have the key to progress and a tool of development, so the University is considered a specialized scientific institution which isn’t limited to provide knowledge for generations, but also provides those knowledge applications as the basis of human and cognitive development, and provides life opportunities for its members.