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The April 2026 issue of Connections is now live! Featuring fresh insights into how open learning is evolving across the Commonwealth, this edition highlights institutional, national, and regional shifts in education, with reflections from India and the Caribbean on rethinking access, quality, and innovation — particularly in the context of the growing influence of AI. We have also included perspectives from our partners, including the Commonwealth Foundation’s new Director-General and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa. Learn more: col.org/news/discover-… #Connections #OpenLearning #DigitalTransformation #InclusiveEducation @commonwealthfdn @unisa

From the disproportionate impacts of natural disasters and climate change to the widening digital divide, expanding access to learning in the Pacific requires responding to the unique challenges of Small Island Developing States. Read our latest news story to learn how COL works with its partners and Focal Points in the Pacific to address local realities, strengthen regional collaboration, and align open learning initiatives with national and regional education priorities. 🔗col.org/news/governmen… #PacificEducation #OpenLearning #ClimateResilience #AIinEducation @MFATNZ @UniSouthPacific

The EDTECH@UNIMA 2026 conference, hosted by the School of Education at the University of Malawi, kicks off next week with a keynote address by Dr Tony Mays, Director: Education at COL. Under the conference theme, Open Educational Resources (OER) and education system resilience in sub-Saharan Africa, Dr Mays will present on OER in the age of AI. Tune in to the hybrid event via Zoom on 12 May at 9:00 AM SAST (12:00 AM PST). #EDTECHUNIMA2026 #OER #AIinEducation #OpenEducation #EducationResilience #COL

How can we bridge the gap between traditional education and the future of work? Our regional centre in India, CEMCA, is driving progress — leveraging strategic partnerships to champion inclusive, technology-enabled learning and skills development across eight Commonwealth countries in Asia. Learn more: col.org/news/bridging-… #EdTech #FutureOfWork #DigitalLearning #InclusiveEducation @CEMCA_COL @ncert @cbseindia29 @EduMinOfIndia @ChangeInkk @EWG_23

The Commonwealth consists of three intergovernmental “sister” organisations: the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation, and the Commonwealth of Learning. In our latest issue of Connections, Razmi Farook, Director-General of the Commonwealth Foundation, shares her vision for shaping a more inclusive and resilient Commonwealth. She reflects on the unique mandates of each sister institution, while highlighting our collective alignment and collaborative strength. Read more: col.org/news/razmi-far… @commonwealthsec @commonwealthorg

Mauritius has officially launched its National Strategy for Higher Education, Science and Research 2025–2035.  Unveiled by the Honourable Dr Kaviraj Sharma Sukon, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, the strategy sets a vision to transform Mauritius into a globally connected, innovation-driven, knowledge economy. Watch the full launch event: youtube.com/live/HMHECVvsc…   #MauritiusEducation #TertiaryEducation #EducationReform #FutureOfEducation

COL held its Caribbean Focal Points Meeting in March 2026, bringing together senior officials from 12 Caribbean Commonwealth countries, along with Malta, to shape a shared vision for improving education and skills development in the region. The priorities are clear: strengthening teacher development, advancing digital and AI literacy, aligning skills with the blue and green economies, and deepening regional collaboration. Read more: col.org/news/caribbean… #Connections #Education #Caribbean #DigitalLearning #TVET

Happy 66th Independence Day, Togo! Since becoming an official member of the Commonwealth in 2022, Togo has initiated advancements in open schooling, higher education, teacher education, and skills development. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MPSE) has championed progress, launching blended learning-based progammes for teaching, developing and implementing ODL policies, and strengthening digital and pedagogical skills for teaching STEM in English. As our work in Togo progresses, new partnerships will continue to expand opportunities for learners and educators in the years ahead. @EducationTg

Happy 65th Independence Day, Sierra Leone! COL partners with the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, along with local institutions and civil society organisations across Sierra Leone, to drive transformative change in open learning. From better equipping students and teachers to empowering farmers through lifelong learning, and expanding access via technology-enabled solutions, Sierra Leonne is shaping a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready learning ecosystem. With the support of our Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning, Sierra Leone has made big strides in strengthening ODL: implementing a national policy across tertiary institutions, developing quality assurance and learner support guidelines, and enhancing operations at higher education institutions. These efforts have led to the establishment of a National Micro-Credentials Framework and the development of an AI policy for tertiary education. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Sierra Leone to make open education more equitable and accessible in the years to come. @techhigheredu @NjalaUniversity @Etu_sl @FreetownPo29539

Happy Freedom Day, South Africa! South Africa is redefining how learning happens through digital innovation and supporting inclusive education pathways both nationally and across the region. Through its leadership and strong partnerships, South Africa has helped drive regional progress by scaling quality teacher development through initiatives such as COL’s Beyond Numbers project, advancing Open and Distance Learning policies across the SADC region, and strengthening digital education leadership through the Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action programme. Earlier this month, South Africa also played a key role in advancing the NOTES initiative (Network for Open Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa), convening over 60 delegates from across Southern Africa to promote the use of Open Educational Resources and Artificial Intelligence in teacher education. COL is proud to support these efforts with government and institutional partners. We value South Africa’s continued collaboration in expanding equitable and inclusive learning opportunities across the Commonwealth. @HigherEducationZA @SchoolNetSA @Siyafunda_ctc @SACE9 @WitsUniversity @ufh1916 @UPTuks @WitsUniversity @UCT_news @unisa

Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, South Africa, addressed delegates from across the Southern Africa region at a workshop on Open Educational Resources (OER) and AI in Johannesburg this week, affirming the importance of African-led collaboration in shaping the future of teacher education. She expressed appreciation for COL’s support at the workshop and described the gathering as “a strategic convergence of institutions, a convergence of ideas, a convergence of intellect.” She also reminded participants that the future of education in Africa will not be shaped by “isolated excellence, but by co-ordinated capabilities,” called on institutions to move beyond discussion to implementation, and encouraged cross-border collaboration to build systems that can produce, share, and sustain knowledge for the entire continent. The regional workshop, supported by COL, was co-hosted by DHET, the University of the Witwatersrand (@WitsUniversity), and the African Deans of Education Forum (ADEF).

On any given morning, millions of learners across the Commonwealth travel to classrooms by bus, car, or foot, often facing barriers of cost, distance, and time. As climate change intensifies, these challenges are only likely to grow, with increased floods, fires, and other natural disasters making access to education even more difficult. This Earth Day, Dr Jako Olivier, Adviser: Higher Education, COL, explores how Open and Distance Learning (ODL) can expand access to education and leave a lighter footprint on the planet. Read more: col.org/news/greening-… #EarthDay #ClimateAction #DistanceLearning #GreenEducation

In Johannesburg, South Africa, a regional workshop to advance Open Educational Resources (OER) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for schools of education across the Southern Africa region is currently underway. Supported by COL and co-hosted by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the University of the Witwatersrand, and the African Deans of Education Forum (ADEF), the workshop has brought together about 60 representatives from schools of education and other tertiary institutions in Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia to strengthen regional collaboration in teacher education. Led by Dr Betty Ogange, Education Specialist: Teacher Education, COL, key outcomes of the workshop include supporting institutions in applying COL’s Framework for OER in Teacher Education, strengthening capacity to find, adapt, co-create, and openly license resources, and exploring sustainable approaches to policy development, quality assurance and regional collaboration. The event forms part of the growing NOTES initiative — the Network for Open Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, which is building an African-led platform for collaboration, shared learning, and coordinated action to strengthen teacher education through OER, AI, and sustainable regional systems. #OER #AIinEducation #TeacherEducation #OpenLearning #Africa @HigherEduGovZA @WitsUniversity

VUSSC Voices, a webinar series highlighting expert voices from COL’s Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) network, returns on 29 April with its tenth session on advancing ODL through policy, practice and capacity building. Engage with education stakeholders from the Commonwealth’s small states and hear from Dr Hermanica Eugene-Zamore, Dean of Academic Affairs at Dominica State College (DSC), as she shares how DSC is advancing online learning. Register: col.org/news/vussc-voi… #OnlineLearning #ODL #EducationInnovation #SmallStates #VUSSC

Our webinar is happening tomorrow and there is still time to register! 🪴 Building Climate-Ready Green Skills: Empowering Women and Girls for a Resilient Future 🗓 Date: April 21 ⏰ Time: 7:00 AM (PST) 👉 Register to attend: buff.ly/XufEqww

It’s not too late to apply to the 2026 COL Chairs Programme! Since 2010, this initiative has brought together distinguished experts from across the Commonwealth to advance research, innovation and thought leadership in Open and Distance Learning and technology-enabled education. COL Chairs are appointed for three years and contribute to advancing learning for sustainable development, in alignment with COL’s strategic plan. Learn more and apply by 30 April: col.org/news/apply-to-… #COLChairsProgramme #OpenDistanceLearning #SustainableDevelopment #CommonwealthEducation