Commonwealth of Learning - Virtual University

A VIRTUAL UNIVERSITY FOR SMALL STATES OF THE COMMONWEALTH (VUSSC)

On behalf of Commonwealth Ministers of Education, COL is co-ordinating the development of a Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC). Thirty countries are now actively engaged in making the VUSSC a reality. VUSSC countries have chosen to focus on creating postsecondary, skills-related courses in areas such as tourism, entrepreneurship, professional development, disaster management and a range of technical and vocational subjects. These non-proprietary, electronically-held course materials, which can readily be adapted to the specific context of each country, are used in the offering of credit-bearing qualifications in the countries' post-secondary institutions, strengthening their educational capacity and outreach. Small states thus become active contributors to global development and leaders in educational reform through the innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICTs). The VUSSC is throwing a wide bridge across the digital divide.

VUSSC BUSINESS PLAN (2007 - 2013)

PRESENTATIONS TO THE VUSSC MEETINGS

The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth: What do you want it to become? : presented at the Senior Officials Meeting on a Transnational Qualifications Framework, VUSSC by Sir John Daniel and Paul West, Commonwealth of Learning.

Background to the Transnational Qualifications Framework : presented at the Officials Meeting on the Transnational Qualifications Framework, VUSSC in Singapore (25 February 2008) by Paul West and Sir John Daniel, Commonwealth of Learning.

Opening Ceremony of the Officials Meeting on the Transnational Qualifications Framework, VUSSC : presented in Singapore (25 February 2007) by Paul West and Sir John Daniel, Commonwealth of Learning.

Building Bridges between Educators in Small and Island States : opening remarks at the Fourth International Training and Course Development Workshop of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth in Apia, Samoa (12 November 2007) by Paul West and Sir John Daniel, Commonwealth of Learning.

Bridging the Last Mile : remarks at the opening of the 3rd VUSSC Development Boot Camp in Port of Spain, Trinidad (4 June 2007) by Sir John Daniel, Commonwealth of Learning.

Virtual university, flexible learning: How far have we come? : opening speech at the 2nd Boot Camp for Educators from Member States of the Commonwealth, held at the National Institute of Education, Singapore (12 March 2007). Presented by Paul West, Commonwealth of Learning.

Update on the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth : presented at the 16th Conference of Commonwealth Ministers of Education in Cape Town, South Africa (10 December 2006) by Sir John Daniel and Paul West (Commonwealth of Learning).

Blue-Sky thinking for Small States: VUSSC Futures : presented at the VUSSC Interlocutor Session in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (9-12 November 2006) by Sir John Daniel.

Fact or Fiction? What Can It Do? : presentation at the opening of the 1st "boot camp" of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth held in Mauritius (7 August 2006) by Paul West & Sir John Daniel, COL.

Breaking New Ground in Open Learning : presented at the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth: 2nd Strategy Meeting for Interlocutors and Institutional Managers in Singapore (10-13 April 2006) by Sir John Daniel.

Learning for Development: The Role of Distance Education : presented at the Papua New Guinea Association of Distance Education conference on April 10, 2006 by Sir John Daniel.

PRESENTATIONS to the VUSSC MEETINGS

VUSSC OVERVIEW

Commonwealth Education Ministers conceived the idea of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth at their meeting in Halifax, Canada, in 2000. Following the Halifax meeting, COL chaired a technical advisory committee and helped draft a proposal for the VUSSC. A small group of Ministers, meeting in the Seychelles in March 2003, reviewed the proposal and recommended it to the Edinburgh Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) in October 2003.

VUSSC member countries have met on two occasions in Singapore. At the first meeting in September 2005, a Letter of Intent and a Singapore Statement were agreed. COL was charged with leading the initiative and seeking potential funding sources for activities.

With support from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, a second meeting has been hosted, once again in Singapore, at which a plan of action to begin the creation of open educational resources (OERs).

The Singapore Government was most supportive in making it possible for countries to meet on both occasions.

The VUSSC members have started their first project to create OERs, using exiting available course content which will be made available via the Internet. While the first project involves the development of learning content in entrepreneurship and tourism, a list of priority areas has been agreed. These will be progressed as funds become available. All countries are contributing their available resources and expertise to this initiative.

The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) is providing £1 million Sterling to COL over the next four years for the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth. This funding will be used to support the development of learning content, such as the materials on tourism and entrepreneurship developed in the VUSSC start-up workshop in Mauritius in August 2006. It will also support two similar workshops in 2007, which will involve more small states of the Commonwealth, and will focus on professional development of educators and life skills for youth.

COL is actively looking for funds to support VUSSC content creation. Development agencies and others that are interested in pursuing this opportunity are encouraged to contact Mr. Paul West, COL, Director, Knowledge Management and Information Technology.

PUBLISHED ARTICLES & NEWS

The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth: What is it for? How is it doing? Where is it going? : article written by Sir John Daniel & Paul West, Commonwealth of Learning. (February 2008)

Educational Technology Magazine : includes the article "The Virtual University Becomes a Reality" by Paul West, Commonwealth of Learning (Nov-Dec 2007)

The Virtual University Becomes a Reality : article by Paul West, Commonweath of Learning published in Education Technology (Nov-Dec 2007). Copyright © 2007 by Educational Technology Publications, Inc., used with permission.

Minister of Tourism Commends IDE for Course using VUSSC Open Educational Resources on Tourism

COL and VUSSSC : article by Robert Aucoin, Avant Learning

Building up diasporas from scratch : the conditions of emergence of process & collaboration in global knowledge communities : article by Alain Senteni, Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning Technologies (VCILT), University of Mauritius