Commonwealth of Learning
Encyclopedia
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organization of the Commonwealth of Nations
headquartered in Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada. Founded at the 1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
(CHOGM) and inaugurated in 1988, COL's mandate is to promote and develop the use of open learning
and distance education
knowledge, resources and technologies throughout the Commonwealth's 53 member states. COL has evolved into one of the world's leading distance education provider and lead the international development in distance education along with UNESCO
. COL is the only intergovernmental organization solely concerned with the development of distance education.
COL's activities are grouped under three sectors: education
, learning
for livelihoods, and human environment. COL helps nations increase access to quality education at all levels by focusing on quality assurance, teacher development, new approaches to higher education and the creation of expertise in Electronic learning. It helps countries to identify where livelihoods can be improved, and to create matching learning opportunities. Successful approaches to improving rural and peri-urban economies draw on COL's close relationship with international agricultural bodies.
Financial support for COL's core operations is provided by Commonwealth governments on a voluntary basis, with primary funding renewed every three years. COL also receives extra-budgetary income from other development sources and provides fee-for-service distance education and open learning course delivery and training for international agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and the World Health Organization
(WHO).
COL's major financial contributors currently include Canada, India, New Zealand, Nigeria
, South Africa and the United Kingdom, all of which have representatives on COL's Board of Governors. The current President and Chief Executive Officer of COL is Sir John Daniel, who was former Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO
and Vice Chancellor of the Open University
from 1990 to 2001. COL's professional staff includes an internationally recruited group of education specialists.
COL works co-operatively with Commonwealth governments and operates through a wide range of partnerships. COL's partners include national and international development agencies and banks, such as non-governmental organizations, other Commonwealth agencies like the Commonwealth Secretariat
, United Nations bodies such as UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIFEM
, UNDP and the World Bank
, national and regional distance education associations and industry.
COL's overall approach and the focus, scope and type of specific programmes and projects is directed by a guidance document referred to as the Three-year Plan, revised with each funding cycle. Revisions are based on input and feedback from Commonwealth member governments and organizations, and are informed by the changing development needs of Commonwealth member nations. Learning for Development is the theme of COL's Three-year Plan 2006—2009. The goal of the plan includes the United Nations
’ Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) and Education for All
(EFA) declarations and the Commonwealth's priorities of peace, democracy
, equality
and good governance.
COL is also co-ordinating the development of a Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth and supporting WikiEducator
, a community resource for the development of free educational content.
In 2002, COL awarded the BBC World Service
Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement for the standard of its English teaching on radio and online.
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
headquartered in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada. Founded at the 1987 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1987
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1987 was the tenth Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was held in Vancouver, Canada, between 13 October 1987 and 17 October 1987, and was hosted by that country's Prime Minister, Brian Mulroney....
(CHOGM) and inaugurated in 1988, COL's mandate is to promote and develop the use of open learning
Open learning
Open learning is a teaching method that is, among others, founded on the work of Célestin Freinet and Maria Montessori.Open learning is supposed to allow pupils self-determined, independent and interest-guided learning....
and distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
knowledge, resources and technologies throughout the Commonwealth's 53 member states. COL has evolved into one of the world's leading distance education provider and lead the international development in distance education along with UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. COL is the only intergovernmental organization solely concerned with the development of distance education.
COL's activities are grouped under three sectors: education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
for livelihoods, and human environment. COL helps nations increase access to quality education at all levels by focusing on quality assurance, teacher development, new approaches to higher education and the creation of expertise in Electronic learning. It helps countries to identify where livelihoods can be improved, and to create matching learning opportunities. Successful approaches to improving rural and peri-urban economies draw on COL's close relationship with international agricultural bodies.
Financial support for COL's core operations is provided by Commonwealth governments on a voluntary basis, with primary funding renewed every three years. COL also receives extra-budgetary income from other development sources and provides fee-for-service distance education and open learning course delivery and training for international agencies, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR) and the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO).
COL's major financial contributors currently include Canada, India, New Zealand, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, South Africa and the United Kingdom, all of which have representatives on COL's Board of Governors. The current President and Chief Executive Officer of COL is Sir John Daniel, who was former Assistant Director-General for Education at UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and Vice Chancellor of the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
from 1990 to 2001. COL's professional staff includes an internationally recruited group of education specialists.
COL works co-operatively with Commonwealth governments and operates through a wide range of partnerships. COL's partners include national and international development agencies and banks, such as non-governmental organizations, other Commonwealth agencies like the Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
, United Nations bodies such as UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIFEM
UNIFEM
The United Nations Development Fund for Women, commonly known as UNIFEM was established in December 1976 originally as the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women in the International Women's Year. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D...
, UNDP and the World Bank
World Bank
The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
, national and regional distance education associations and industry.
COL's overall approach and the focus, scope and type of specific programmes and projects is directed by a guidance document referred to as the Three-year Plan, revised with each funding cycle. Revisions are based on input and feedback from Commonwealth member governments and organizations, and are informed by the changing development needs of Commonwealth member nations. Learning for Development is the theme of COL's Three-year Plan 2006—2009. The goal of the plan includes the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
’ Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs) and Education for All
Education For All
Education For All is a global movement led by UNESCO, aiming to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. UNESCO has been mandated to lead the movement and coordinate the international efforts to reach Education for All...
(EFA) declarations and the Commonwealth's priorities of peace, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
, equality
Equality before the law
Equality before the law or equality under the law or legal egalitarianism is the principle under which each individual is subject to the same laws....
and good governance.
COL is also co-ordinating the development of a Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth and supporting WikiEducator
WikiEducator
WikiEducator is an international online community project for the collaborative development of learning materials, which educators are free to reuse, adapt and share without restriction. WikiEducator was launched in 2006 and is supported by the non-profit Open Education Resource Foundation...
, a community resource for the development of free educational content.
In 2002, COL awarded the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
Commonwealth of Learning Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement for the standard of its English teaching on radio and online.
External links
- Official Website
- COL in the Commonwealth of Nations Website
- UNESCO/Commonwealth of Learning "Schoolnet Toolkit" Now Online
- infoDev, Commonwealth of Learning releases public report on NEPAD e-Schools
- Nigeria: Country Partners Commonwealth on Distance Learning
- SLADE, COL to empower farmers
- Unesco guidelines way to go in distance education
- Information Management Resource Kit (IMARK)