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Focusing on strengthening graduate employability within higher education, the Commonwealth Educational Media…
In a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and independence, thirty blind and…
Bridging education and employment: The Graduate Employability (GE) project launched in India.
Focusing on strengthening graduate employability within higher education, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) #COL4D—recently partnered with Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU) to convene a pivotal workshop in Bhopal, India. By bringing together academic leaders and practitioners, this workshop aimed to ensure that future graduates acquire the necessary skills aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving job market.
Guided by experts from COL and CEMCA, the workshop marked an advance in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs. This approach aligns closely with the employability priorities outlined in the Ahmedabad Declaration – adopted by all 16 open universities (OUs) in India – reaffirming a collective resolve to produce graduates who are more readily prepared for meaningful employment. Participants from these OUs were oriented on the integration and implementation process for higher education. Shri Inder Singh Parmar, Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Technical Education, State Government of Madhya Pradesh, in his remarks as the Chief Guest on the concluding day of the workshop, commended the project as the need of the hour.
Dr B. Shadrach, Director, CEMCA, underscored the timeliness of the project and the need for capacity building and sensitisation among OU educators. He referred to the flexibility offered by India’s National Education Policy 2020, which provides a unique opportunity to adopt and adapt the COL Employability Model to the Indian context. Dr Shadrach encouraged the participants to become GE champions in each of the four phases of the project, starting with assessment and sensitisation, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The GE project at the OUs aims to equip the faculty members to embed skills and competencies essential for employment into curricula, aligning higher education with the needs of the workforce.
Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser: Higher Education COL, discussed the project’s emphasis on stakeholder collaboration and exploring emerging job markets. She shared insights from GE implementations in Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zambia, where stakeholder engagement and framework validation were critical.
Given India’s diverse cultural and employment landscape, strategies such as localising solutions, fostering industry-university linkages, and creating “baskets of courses” for learners with varied profiles were proposed.
Key recommendations stemming from the workshop included developing strong industry partnerships, promoting financial literacy and entrepreneurship/business acumen, and introducing industry-based internships and apprenticeships in the final year of graduate programmes. The participants highlighted the need for comprehensive faculty training, modular and outcome-based course designing, and leveraging alumni networks for mentorship.
#GraduateEmployability #HigherEducation #SkillDevelopment #IndiaEducation #WorkforceDevelopment #IndustryPartnerships #EducationReform #DigitalLearning #VocationalTraining #CareerReadiness #VocationalTraining #CareerReadiness #OpenUniversities #EducationPolicy
Supporting ODL and teacher professional development in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) #COL4D is supporting the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Creative Industries (MOESC) in Antigua and Barbuda in developing a national open and distance learning (ODL) policy and a professional development governance framework for teachers. This initiative aims to enhance teacher training beyond the initial preparation provided by the Department of Teacher Education at Antigua State College.
Towards these goals, the Ministry recently hosted a four-day national workshop in St. John’s, with over 40 stakeholders in attendance. Participants included education and curriculum support officers, master and senior teachers, teacher educators, and representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers. The principals of Barbuda’s primary and secondary schools were also in attendance, ensuring representation from all parts of the twin-island state.
The workshop was officially opened by the Director of Education, Mr Clare Browne, who emphasised the importance of robust governance structures to guide professional development activities. In his remarks, Mr Browne stated, “This process aligns with our national education sector plan, addressing strategic imperatives to strengthen the regulatory framework that guides educational activities. The outcomes of this workshop will play an important role in achieving our education goals.”
Centred on the theme of teachers as the nation’s “future makers,” discussions highlighted the need to improve the standards of the teaching profession. Participants examined the state of teacher training and professional development, with most suggesting that student performance remains the ultimate measure of educational success. They proposed innovative strategies to professionalise teaching while reflecting on ways to integrate open educational resources and online learning into an inclusive ODL framework.
COL’s Education Specialist for Teacher Education, Dr Betty Ogange, remarked, “Teachers are integral to the implementation of education reforms. Providing them with structured opportunities for continuous professional development, supported by ODL, ensures they remain equipped to adopt new pedagogical standards and meet their learners’ diverse needs.”
#ODL #TeacherDevelopment #AntiguaAndBarbuda #EducationReform #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherTraining #InclusiveEducation #FutureMakers #EducationGoals
MMTTC, Tezpur University, Assam, India, Organises Short-Term Course on Online Course Development
Dr B. Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (Col Cemca), the regional centre of Commonwealth of Learning, addressed educators as the Special Guest at the inauguration of a Short-Term Course (STC) on Development of Online Course/Programme at Tezpur university in Assam, India. It is being organised by the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) at the University from 16-20 December 2024. The workshop, conducted in blended mode, would focus on building educators’ capacities to create high-quality online courses aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Professor Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, welcomed the participants, underscoring the growing need for well-designed online courses to meet the demands of millions of learners. “The success of online learning depends on the quality and inclusivity of the courses,” he emphasised.
In his address, Dr Shadrach commended MMTTC’s efforts to enhance teacher development and outlined strategies for creating engaging and effective online courses. Highlighting challenges such as low completion rates on Government of India’s MOOC platforms, like SWAYAM, he stressed the importance of interactivity, storytelling, and case studies in course design to hold the attention of online learners. He also encouraged the adoption of the four-quadrant approach, which integrates multi-media instructional content, supported by supplementary learning materials including case studies, interactive discussion forums, and assessment tools to enhance learner engagement.
Follow the link for more insights: www.cemca.org/news/mmttc-tezpur-university-assam-india-organises-short-term-course-online-course-...
#onlineeducation #onlinecourses #blendedlearning #OpenEducationalResources #MOOCs
Ngā mihi nui to MFAT’s Dr. Helen Leslie (UN, Human Rights and Commonwealth Unit Manager) for representing New Zealand at the #CHOGM2024 @COL4D side event last week. She talked about the importance of international development support to advance education for resilience in the…
Professor Peter Scott @peter_scott, President and CEO of @COL4D, recently delivered a virtual keynote address at a University of Ghana @UnivofGh conference on the theme “Embracing the Future: The Emergence of AI and its Impact on Open Distance and E-learning.”
Watch it here:…
Malawi: Engaging and enabling learning for girls through accessible technology
@COL4D's Empowering Women and Girls project @EWG_23 is being implemented in Malawi through its regional partners, the Centre for Research and Development Initiative and Concerned Youth Organization.…
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