AU President Dominque Abrioux (left) accepts the ICDE Institutional Prize for Excellence.

The International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE) recognized the hard work of all Athabasca University staff in making the University one of the world’s outstanding distance and open learning institutions.

At its 21st World Conference in Hong Kong, Feb. 18-21, ICDE awarded Athabasca University one of two Institutional Prizes for Excellence.

ICDE bestows The Institutional Prize to “:educational organizations, governments and companies for outstanding contributions to the field (of distance education), particularly in terms of innovation, quality and leadership. These achievements should have made very significant contributions, across cultural and linguistic barriers, to the international community of distance and virtual learning during the last five years.”

About 15 AU family members were on hand to witness President Dominique Abrioux accept the weighty statue that accompanies the prestige of the award. Many of the staff and faculty members there also presented papers at the conference.

“We are delighted that our colleagues around the world recognize the achievements of the students and staff of the University in this way,” Abrioux noted. “It is a strong reflection of the commitment to growth, excellence and service that is at the heart of Athabasca University’s work.

“And it weighs a ton,” he added.

For more information on ICDE, the world conference, papers presented, or to view conference highlights, go to http://www.icde.org