COL in support of empowering India’s open education space.
18 of the world’s 34 open universities (OUs) in the Commonwealth are based in India, and approximately 11% of all Indian post-secondary students are learners in that system. This considerable achievement is an astonishing success story in which @COL4D and its regional centre – the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia @COL_CEMCA – continue to play a critical role.
The Ahmedabad Declaration, a consortium facilitated by @COL_CEMCA involving Vice Chancellors of OU’s in India, reaffirmed its commitment to India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, key points of which are:
• Boosting Gross Enrolment Ratio to 50% by 2035
• Focusing on lifelong learning and skill development
• Embracing multidisciplinary education
• Promoting blended learning and digital technologies
• Enhancing accessibility for marginalised groups
Open Universities are taking the lead in making higher education more inclusive, flexible, and aligned with 21st-century needs thus contributing to national resilience.🚀
Earlier this year, COL President and CEO, Professor Peter Scott @peter_scott, hosted a meeting with the Consul General of India in Vancouver @cgivancouver to discuss COL’s unique bilateral relationship with India and the strong and enduring partnership that has been cultivated between COL and India since COL’s formation in 1987. He noted, “India is a powerhouse of the Commonwealth, representing half its 2.5 billion people, and understands the power of learning for its own peoples and the wider good of the world. COL is delighted to have such a strong partner in our work.”
@HCI_London #Resilience #CHOGM2024 #OpenEducation #IndiaEducation #COL4D #COLCEMCA #AhmedabadDeclaration #HigherEducation
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Building Resilience Through Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning in the Pacific!
#COL4D’s project, Partnership for Open Distance and Flexible Learning in the Pacific, has made significant strides in empowering communities across nine Pacific island nations.
From enhancing the resilience of education ministries with data recovery strategies to advancing digital literacy among youth and women in remote areas, our work reflects a deep commitment to building resilient systems for education and training. We have trained ICT officers in ministries of education to manage critical data while our online #TVET toolkit continues to empower educators in this vital area.
Thousands of teachers have benefited from the open online courses on technology-enabled learning, supported by @MFATNZ and implemented jointly with PACFOLD at the University of the South Pacific @USP #CHOGM 2024.
#Resilience #OpenLearning #ResilientEducation #ODFL #PacificPartnership #TEL
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Botswana Open University is pioneering e-learning for open schooling.
In a significant and forward-thinking move to enhance education in Botswana, the Botswana Open University (BOU) @BotswanaOpenUni College of Open Schooling has developed an extensive range of e-learning resources on the #Moodle Learning Management System (LMS). Launched in 2020 with a successful business subject pilot, BOU's e-learning initiative has expanded across the curriculum, showcasing the college's commitment to modernising and broadening educational access in Botswana.
One of the most commendable aspects of BOU’s approach is the openness of the e-learning resources. These materials are not confined to BOU students alone but are also accessible to conventional schools across Botswana. Both Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary students can benefit from these resources, which supplement their existing curriculum and provide additional support for their studies.
A noteworthy development in this ongoing effort is the recent inclusion of a new vocational subject, Hospitality and Tourism. Scheduled to enrol its first cohort of students in 2025, this programme highlights the university’s responsiveness to the evolving needs of the job market and its dedication to providing students with relevant, career-oriented education.
The collaboration between BOU and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) #COL4D is led by Dr Tommie Hamaluba (BOU) @Tommieafrica and Dr Tony Mays, Director: Education at COL. This is part of a broader effort to bridge the digital divide that exists in Botswana, particularly between urban and rural areas. Digital inclusion is crucial in ensuring students from all backgrounds have equal educational opportunities.
BOU's expansion of e-learning offerings and educator training in digital tools positions it as an educational innovation leader in Botswana, potentially serving as a model for other institutions by demonstrating the power of technology to create opportunities for diverse learners.
Dr Mays observed that while the general direction of open schooling provision is digital and online, not all communities are yet ready for the full transition. However, a central digital platform can form the basis for several different forms of provision, including digitally-enriched contact provision, blended learning and fully online provision, depending on the relative readiness of both learners and teachers in different places.
BOU’s College of Open Schooling’s development of e-learning resources on Moodle is a landmark achievement that benefits students nationwide. By addressing the digital divide and providing educators with the tools they need to succeed, BOU is improving access to education and ensuring it is of the highest quality.
#BotswanaOpenUniversity #LearningManagementSystemS #Elearning #OpenSchooling #DigitalEducation #OpenEducationalResources #DistanceLearning
#EducationalInnovation #EmpoweredLearners
#InclusiveEducation #FutureOfEducation
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