NEWS From COL

By Dave Wilson
Communications Manager
COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING (COL)
1055 West Hastings Street, Suite 1200, Vancouver, BC V6E 2E9 CANADA
PH: +1.604.775.8200 | FAX: +1.604.775.8210
WEB: www.col.org | E-MAIL: info@col.org

In News from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) of December 2010, details on the following have been released:
1) Excellence in Distance Education Award winners
2) More than 600 attend PCF6
3) Call for expressions of interest to co-host PCF7

1) Congratulations to Excellence in Distance Education Award winners
COL’s biennials Excellence in Distance Education Awards were presented at the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Kochi, India late last month. Congratulations to all the winners:

Honorary Fellows of COL:
• Professor M. Aminul Islam, Bangladesh
• Dr. Roger Mills, UK
• The Honourable Naledi Pandor, South Africa
• Ms. Peecheeta Spencer, Antigua & Barbuda
• Professor John Tarrant, U.K.

Institutional Achievement:
• Open University of Malaysia
• Polytechnic of Namibia
• Memorial University of Newfoundland

Materials, Category A:
Materials in print, audio or video, or a combination of these:
• Francistown College of Technical & Vocational Education, for the Botswana Technical Education Programme Certificate Course – The Human Body.

Materials, Category B:
Interactive, electronically delivered materials, which may be supplemented by materials developed in other media:
• University of Mauritius, for the Diploma in Web & Multimedia Development of the Virtual Centre for Innovative Learning

Distance Learning Experience, degree-granting programme:
• Professor Chan Lai Keng, Malaysia

Distance Learning Experience, eLearning experience in difficult circumstances
Mr. Osman Ali Gema Eshag, Sudan

Further details on the awards, the ceremony and the winners:
www.col.org/edea/2010

2) More than 600 attend PCF6
More than 600 people from more than 50 countries attended COL's Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF6) in Kochi, Kerala, India from 24-28 November. PCF6 was co-hosted in India in partnership with the Indira Gandhi National Open University. Conference Co-Chairs were Professor V.N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, and Sir John Daniel, President and C.E.O. of COL. PCF6’s Honorary Chair was Professor M.S. Swaminathan.

Delegates explored the contribution of open and distance learning to international development goals, by opening up access to learning at every level. The theme was Access & Success in Learning: Global Development Perspectives. Sub themes were: Social Justice, Community Development, Skills Development and Formal Education.
PCF6’s daily newsletters with photos, published by IGNOU, can be read here: www.col.org/pcf.
Over 300 papers were included in the programme, which are available for all at http://wikieducator.org/PCF6.
Several keynote presentations, including Sir John’s sum-up (Access and Success in Learning: Your Conclusions) are available at www.col.org/speeches.
Reports, conclusions and impressions of PCF6 from COL staff are at www.col.org/blog (comments welcome).
News items published in the Indian and other national press have been collected by COL at www.delicious.com/Commonwealth_of_Learning/PCF6.
PCF6 participants are invited to complete an online survey that will help us to evaluate the Forum: www.surveymonkey.com/s/PCF6

In addition to COL and IGNOU other PCF6 sponsors included the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), UNESCO, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS, India), the Commonwealth Secretariat, The Open University (U.K.) and the University of London. Sponsorship funds are directed entirely to travel subsidies for over 100 delegates from Commonwealth developing countries – none of whom have received funding from COL in the past to attend a PCF – and ensure that there is representation from as many member states as possible. Thank you to all.
www.col.org/pcf6

3) PCF7 co-host: Call for expressions of interest

COL has issued a call for expressions of interest for organisations, institutions and/or countries interested in co-hosting the next Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in 2012. Please address your submission to COL’s President and C.E.O., Sir John Daniel, c/o info@col.org, and include details on proposed hosting arrangements and support. Deadline: 31 January 2011.
www.col.org/pcf

LEARNING FOR DEVELOPMENT:
COL is an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies.

Connections/EdTech News: www.col.org/connections
COL blog: www.col.org/blog
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