The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) @COL4D congratulates Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang @NJOAgyemang on being sworn in as Ghana's first female vice president – the latest in a long line of achievements breaking new boundaries for women.
COL benefited from Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s knowledge in her previous role as the Honourable Minister of Education, and in 2016, she was conferred the COL Honorary Fellowship during the Eight Pan-Commonwealth Forum held in Kuala Lumpur (see attached image).
COL continues to work with partners in Ghana in the areas of teacher education and higher education and recently initiated a project with the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling to explore teacher-centric Gen AI. We look forward to possible future opportunities to engage with the Vice President in her new role.
#COL4D #WomenInLeadership #Ghana #BreakingBarriers #Education #HigherEducation #TeacherEducation #GenerativeAI #GhanaEducation #DistanceLearning #OpenEducation
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Empowering the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Solomon Islands.
With support from #COL4D and funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade #MFATNZ New Zealand, 200 participants recently graduated from the Solomon Islands’ "Taep Fo Laef" programme.
Led by the Blind and Vision Impaired Persons Support Initiative #BVIPSI, this diverse group of young and adult individuals, both male and female, who are blind or visually impaired have shown incredible resilience and adaptability. Participants ranged from those congenitally blind to those who lost their vision later in life due to accidents or health conditions.
The programme targeted youth ages 18 to 30 and adults ages 30 to 50, focusing on empowering them to regain independence and enhance societal participation. Outreach efforts included promotions through local community groups, social media, and collaborations with organisations dedicated to the blind and visually impaired, as well as outreach in schools, disability advocacy groups, and health institutions across the Solomon Islands.
Participants were equipped with essential computer and literacy skills tailored to accommodate their visual impairments. Training included using assistive technologies such as screen readers and specialised software, which are crucial for communication, learning, and employment. The curriculum also covered life skills like financial literacy, independent mobility, and effective communication techniques, all critical for improving the quality of life for the visually impaired.
Support from volunteers and mentors has been crucial to the success of the #TaepFoLaef programme. Many graduates noted that personalised mentoring was instrumental in helping them stay on course and navigate challenges. The guidance and encouragement from volunteers played a significant role in enhancing the participants' self-confidence and academic achievements. Daniel Corrigan, the headteacher of Woodford International Primary School, Honiara, presented certificates.
Resilience and adaptability were key lessons, with the programme addressing the challenges and stigma associated with visual impairment. The young female participants benefited from the programme’s inclusive approach, which encouraged leadership and advocacy. In contrast, adult participants who experienced vision loss later in life found the programme a supportive environment for adapting to their new circumstances.
#Empowerment #Inclusion #BlindAndVisuallyImpaired #TaepFoLaef #BVIPSI #SolomonIslands #AssistiveTechnology #Independence #CommunitySupport
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Extended to 28 February 2025 – call for PCF11 abstracts and proposals.
Submission date extended to 28 February 2025
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Botswana, represented by Botswana Open University (BOU), will co-host the Eleventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF11) pcf11.org/ in Gaborone, Botswana, from 10 to 12 September 2025 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre.
Academics, researchers, technology innovators, development practitioners, administrators, stakeholders and partner institutions are invited to submit abstracts and proposals.
Deadlines
- Last date for submission of abstract/proposal: Extended to 28 February 2025
- Last date for notification of abstract/proposal approval: 31 March 2025
About the Pan-Commonwealth Forum
The Forum takes place every three years and is considered one of the world’s leading international conferences on open and distance learning.
The theme of PCF11 is Innovative Open Education: Fostering Resilient Societies for Sustainable Economic Development.
The event will continue to provide the rich in-person experience that delegates have come to expect while also allowing virtual attendees to access a mix of live, on-demand, and interactive content.
To ensure the Forum is accessible to as many delegates as possible, this will be a hybrid event.
The submission and review process will be managed through the EasyChair platform. Please create your account here and then submit your proposal.
Only authors of accepted abstracts/proposals will receive the link for submission of full papers.
For more information, please visit:
Call for Abstracts and Proposals – PCF11: pcf11.org/call-for-proposals/
Criteria and Instructions for Abstract/Proposal Submission and Selection: pcf11.org/criteria-and-instructions-for-proposals-submission-and-selection/
Criteria and Instructions for Paper Submission and Selection: pcf11.org/criteria-and-instructions-for-paper-submission-and-selection/
Link to news: www.col.org/news/pcf11-call-for-abstracts-and-proposals/
Criteria and Instructions for Abstract/Proposal Submission and Selection: pcf11.org/criteria-and-instructions-for-proposals-submission-and-selection/
Link to news: www.col.org/news/pcf11-call-for-abstracts-and-proposals/
#PCF11 #OpenLearning #DistanceEducation #InnovativeEducation #ResilientSocieties #SustainableDevelopment #EducationConference #CallForAbstracts #HybridEvent
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