COL’s session at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 brought together leaders in AI education from India, Kenya, Fiji, and Mauritius to explore how frugal, inclusive, and teacher-led AI can transform education across diverse Commonwealth contexts.
Convened by Professor Peter Scott, President of the Commonwealth of Learning, the session highlighted perspectives on ethically leveraging Frugal AI to strengthen education systems while ensuring sovereignty, inclusivity, and building local capacity.
Framing the discussion in the Summit’s three foundational sutras of people, planet, and progress, the panel shared insights across technology, skills development, policymaking, quality assurance, and higher education. Panelists also focused on the importance of expanding access, strengthening education systems, and reaching even the most remote communities through inclusive and innovative approaches to Frugal AI:
- Dr Sumit Kalra, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur
- Professor Ganesan Kannabiran, Director, National Assessment and Accreditation Council, India
- Professor Ami Upadhyay, Vice Chancellor, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, Gujarat, India
- Dr Edwin Tarno, CEO, Kenya School of Technical and Vocational Training, Kenya
- Dr Sawkut Rojid, Special Adviser to the Minister for Tertiary Education and Research, Mauritius
- Dr Rajni Kaushal Chand, Director, Centre for Flexible Learning, University of the South Pacific, Fiji
Leaders also had the opportunity to endorse the Gaborone to Delhi Compact on teacher-led, localised AI at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Want to learn more or join the Compact? Visit: www.col.org/frugal
🎥 Watch the full session: commonwealthoflearning.info/3OeaL3L
#IndiaAIImpactSummit2026 #ResponsibleAI #PeoplePlanetProgress INDIAai Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of India Ministry of Education Press Information Bureau - PIB, Government of India Ministry of Higher Education,Research Science and Technology GIS Mauritius The University of the South Pacific Kenya School of TVET IIT Jodhpur Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University Canada in India (High Commission of Canada) India in Vancouver - Consulate General of India The Commonwealth Commonwealth Foundation
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Happy 61st Independence Day, The Gambia!
COL works with government ministries, academic institutions, and civil society in The Gambia to advance higher education, teacher education, open schooling, skills for work, and lifelong learning for farmers in the country. The Gambia is also a member of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) network and is supported by programmes delivered by the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) in Nigeria.
Recent initiatives have supported the development of a Gender Inclusion Policy for Tertiary and Higher Education, a National Quality Assurance Standard for ODL institutions, and strengthened national food security strategies. With our partners, COL is committed to shaping a more inclusive and resilient learning ecosystem in The Gambia.
Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, The Gambia Ministry of Higher Education,Research Science and Technology The Gambia College Unique Foundation The University of The Gambia West Africa Livestock Innovation Centre - WALIC
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How can higher education institutions, particularly those operating at scale through Open and Distance Learning (ODL), advance inclusion while strengthening learner success, equity, and long-term sustainability?
Join our upcoming webinar to discover practical insights from Zambia and reflect on how inclusive ODL can strengthen your institutional goals.
🔗 Register now: www.col.org/news/towards-inclusive-education-in-higher-education-webinar-experiences-from-zambia/
SADC Centre for Distance Education #InclusiveEducation #highereducation #opendistancelearning #ZambiaEducation
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