COL

COL is excited to announce that the newest issue of Connections is now live. It brings together the full story of PCF11, capturing the energy and key moments that shaped this year’s forum. From ministerial dialogues to groundbreaking keynote insights, we distill highlights from more than 50 sessions on the future of open, distance, and technology-enabled learning. We also celebrate the expertise of over 400 delegates from 48 countries by showcasing regional stories, expert reflections, and the collective actions of people powering educational transformation across the Commonwealth. Read the full PCF11 issue: hdl.handle.net/11599/6059

From climate change impacts and natural disasters to rapid technological change, expanding learning opportunities in the Pacific requires addressing the unique challenges of small island developing states. That’s why we work with COL’s Focal Points from across the region to centre national priorities of our Pacific Member States in our work. Last month, Prof. Peter Scott and Anne-Marie Scott, COL’s President and Vice President, with a team of COL specialists and advisers, travelled to Nadi, Fiji, to host a Pacific Focal Points Meeting and facilitate regional consultations for the second phase of the Pacific Partnership for Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning. The meeting brought together senior officials from Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu to identify shared priorities, exchange perspectives, and strengthen regional ties on topics such as teacher capacity-building, skills development, climate resiliency, AI and beyond. Read more: col.org/news/col-conve… #SmallIslandStates #PacificEducation #OpenLearning #EducationInnovation @MFATNZ @UniSouthPacific

From a coastal fishing town in Tuvalu to the bustling streets of New Delhi, learning should never stop because of where you are. On this International Day of Digital Learning, Anne-Marie Scott, Vice-President of COL, reflects on how digital education is opening doors for millions while reminding us that equity must remain at the centre. Watch along to learn more about COL’s commitment to building inclusive, resilient, and equitable education systems: youtu.be/EWQA_LQ0IOg

This week, the COL team is in Jamaica for the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Conference, exploring the future of open schooling in the Caribbean. 🌍📚 During our pre-conference session, we were joined by the Honourable Octavia Alfred, Minister of Education, Human Resource Planning, Vocational Training, and National Excellence in Dominica, as well as TVET leaders, senior government officials, COL Focal Points, researchers, and representatives from CXC, the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities, and the Caribbean Community. Participants expressed strong support for establishing an Innovative Open School in the region. COL President Prof. Peter Scott discussed the need for open schooling to address the challenges presented by a rapidly evolving technological and multilateral landscape, and the opportunity to draw on lessons from diverse experiences across the Commonwealth and leverage our strengths to address these challenges. COL Focal Points will continue discussions to move this initiative forward. #2026CXCConference #CaribbeanEducation #OpenSchooling

COL’s Empowering Women and Girls Project have released a new toolkit for community organisers on advocating for disability and inclusion rights. Download the publication: hdl.handle.net/11599/6111 #DisabilityInclusion #AdvocacyToolkit #InclusionRights

The March 2026 issue of COL’s Journal of Learning for Development (JL4D) is out now! Under the theme “Quality ODL Provision: Stakeholders’ Perspectives,” this issue features 14 peer-reviewed papers and two book reviews exploring quality in open, distance, digital, and blended learning. 🔗 Read more: jl4d.org/index.php/ejl4d #JL4D #OpenDistanceLearning #LearningForDevelopment #EducationResearch

COL is excited to announce the launch of our new email news service, The Commonwealth Open Learning Bulletin! The Bulletin, for short, is a regular newsletter of curated open learning and development news from across the Commonwealth and around the globe. It brings together stories, innovations, and insights that reflect our shared commitment to expanding equitable learning opportunities and fueling progress towards sustainable development. Subscribe to get The Bulletin delivered straight to your inbox: col.org/the-bulletin/ #CommonwealthLearning #SustainableDevelopment #LearningInnovation #DevelopmentNews

✨ On this International Day of Mathematics, hear from stakeholders in COL’s Advancing Caribbean Teaching (ACT) in Mathematics Education project as they share how mathematics inspires hope. Their reflections highlight the power of mathematics to expand learning opportunities and shape brighter futures for individuals, communities, and Member Countries across the Commonwealth. Watch the video: youtube.com/shorts/m3NfSar… #InternationalDayOfMathematics2026 #MathematicsEducation #CaribbeanEducation #CommonwealthEducation

Don’t forget to register for the upcoming launch event of Advocating for Inclusion and Disability Rights: A Toolkit for Community Organisations. Brought to you by COL’s Empowering Women and Girls Project (EWG), this event will introduce the toolkit, share reflections on its development, and explore how community practitioners can better apply lenses of inclusion and accessibility while elevating the voices of persons with disabilities. Register now: commonwealthoflearning.info/4sGF7uE

In the spirit of International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting resources that strengthen knowledge, advocacy, and action for the rights of women and girls around the Commonwealth. The Women’s Rights and Gender-Based Violence: Training Manual is designed for trainers of trainers to prepare future educators to lead learning with their own students and communities. Download the resource: hdl.handle.net/11599/5688 #IWD2026 #ForAllWomenAndGirls #GiveToGain #GenderEquality

Today, @COL4D joins the people of Mauritius in celebrating 58 years of independence. We commend the nation’s ongoing commitment to education, innovation, and inclusive development. Mauritius continues to demonstrate how learning can uplift communities and open pathways to opportunity for all. COL works with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science, and Research in Mauritius, and with local education institutions and civil society organisations to support initiatives in higher education, teacher education, and technology-enabled learning. Mauritius is also an active member of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) network and benefits from programmes implemented by COL’s regional Centre, the Southern African Development Community’s Centre for Distance Education in South Africa. @UDMMauritius @UniOfMauritius

In a new publication commissioned by COL, researchers from The University of the West Indies, Mona, examine the experiences of 11 young men from Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago who remained engaged in education despite significant challenges. Their stories reveal the personal, familial, institutional and community influences underlying their success, offering insights into how to support boys and young men facing similar challenges. Read the report: hdl.handle.net/11599/6106 #CaribbeanEducation #BoysEducation

What can British Columbia learn from the Commonwealth about micro-credentials? Next month, Dr Jako Olivier, Adviser: Higher Education at COL, will deliver a keynote at the CredX Symposium, sharing practical lessons from micro-credential frameworks already working across the Commonwealth and outlining best practices for implementation in British Columbia.🔗 Learn more: credx.opened.ca #CredX2026 #MicroCredentials #LifeLongLearning #EducationInnovation

Did you miss the #YouthForesight webinar on youth-led pathways for gender equality held in the lead-up to #CSW70? Watch Dr Jyotsna Jha, Director: Skills at COL, in conversation with fellow panelists and presenters as they explore how education, skills development, and economic opportunities can create more inclusive pathways for girls and young women: youtu.be/AZyvT0XLRsI?si… 📍 Tomorrow, Dr Jha will also participate in a CSW70 side event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, focused on advancing climate justice through gender-responsive climate finance. #CSW70 #ForAllWomenAndGirls #IWD2026 #GenderEquality @UN_Women @commonwealthsec

Happy Commonwealth Day! Hear from Professor Peter Scott, President & CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, as he reflects on the importance of collaboration in unlocking opportunities for a more prosperous and resilient Commonwealth: youtu.be/56vVQ3sCKVc #CommonwealthDay #CommonwealthEducation #CommonwealthFamily @commonwealthsec @commonwealthorg

At COL, gender equality is a core principle shaping how we design programmes and support learning across the Commonwealth. Curious how this commitment is put into practice? Read COL’s Gender Strategy: hdl.handle.net/11599/5746 #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #GivetoGain #ForAllWomenAndGirls

On this International Women’s Day, learn more about COL’s flagship programme on Empowering Women & Girls, generously supported by Global Affairs Canada: empoweringwomenandgirls.col.org #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #GivetoGain #ForAllWomenAndGirls

With generous support from Global Affairs Canada, COL’s Empowering Women and Girls Project (EWG) provides training in human rights, gender equality, gender-based violence prevention, financial literacy, and climate resilient practices across rural communities in Bangladesh, Malawi, Mozambique, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. This International Women’s Day, explore how investing in women accelerates progress toward a more equal future. Read EWG’s blog: col.org/news/give-to-g… #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #GivetoGain #ForAllWomenAndGirls

At COL, we recognise that there are multiple pathways to achieving gender justice. In our latest blog, Dr Jyotsna Jha, Director: Skills at COL, reflects on UN Women’s International Women’s Day theme of “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL women and girls.” Read more: col.org/news/taking-th… #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #ForAllWomenAndGirls

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the 2026 theme of “Give to Gain.” Watch along as Ms Frances Ferreira, Senior Adviser: Women and Girls at COL, reflects on how investing in women’s knowledge, skills, and rights, creates resilient, flourishing communities across the Commonwealth: youtu.be/UvRgm93Gwdo #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2026 #GiveToGain #ForAllWomenAndGirls

Happy 69th Independence Day, Ghana! COL’s work in Ghana, with support from COL’s Regional Centre, the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) in Nigeria, is strengthening the quality and access of higher education, teacher education, lifelong learning for farmers, gender equality initiatives and skills training. In recent years, together with local partners, we have: • Trained over 5,000 teachers • Improved the livelihoods of more than 30,000 farming households • Supported over 13,000 learners through the Skills Online programme Stakeholders from across the country have also participated in national and regional workshops to build capacity in Moodle, ODL policy and delivery, continuous professional development, Open Educational Resources, and Teacher-in-the-Loop AI. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with partners across Ghana to make open education more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for everyone. @officialmoegov @ghanalibraries @KNUSTGH @tamalecollege @worldreaders