COL

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is the only IGO dedicated to promoting and developing open, distance and tech-enabled learning. Re-posts are not endorsements.

[COL @COL4D]

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: https://t.co/lWwqowmZ9d

#Connections #OpenLearning #DigitalTransformation #InclusiveEducation @commonwealthfdn @unisa

[COL @COL4D]

Today, the Maldives celebrates 61 years of independence!

The Maldives has shown strong leadership in education, including in addressing the digital divide, future-proofing education, supporting learners with disabilities and using education to respond to climate challenges.

Together with its education partners, the Maldives is also expanding the use of technology to make learning more accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of learners.

As the country marks this important national milestone, we celebrate our continued partnership in support of learning that is inclusive and resilient. @MoEdumv @official_ium @VillaCollegeMv

[COL @COL4D]

As athletes from across the Commonwealth come together for #Glasgow2026, the Commonwealth Games remind us that sport can build much more than physical ability. It can strengthen teamwork, leadership, confidence, and inclusion.

Ahead of the Games, Commonwealth sports ministers renewed their commitment to harnessing the power of sport to advance sustainable development, inclusion and peace at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting. They made commitments to greater investment in community sport and physical activity, stronger partnerships and capacity-building, increased access to funding for sport for development and peace, and more opportunities for young people, women and girls.

At COL, we believe sport can support learning, strengthen community inclusion and open pathways to improved livelihoods. We wish all athletes every success as they compete and connect with diverse communities across the Commonwealth.

#CommonwealthGames #SportForDevelopment #Education #SkillsDevelopment #Inclusion #Commonwealth

[Shirley Botchwey @SGCommonwealth]

What an incredible display at the #Glasgow2026 Opening Ceremony!

I was inspired by the vibrancy, energy and spirit of our Commonwealth family.

As athletes and fans come together from across the Commonwealth, we celebrate more than sport - we celebrate friendship, unity and the values that bind us together.

[COL @COL4D]

💡 Responsible AI in education begins with teachers shaping the rules.

With support from COL, The University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, and the Eastern Caribbean Joint Board of Teacher Education are co-developing an AI curriculum framework, policy and code of conduct to help educators determine when AI supports learning, when it may undermine it, and how it can be used ethically and transparently. Learn more: https://t.co/B0UDzmedUq

#ResponsibleAI #TeacherEducation #DigitalEducation #EasternCaribbean #OpenLearning

[COL @COL4D]

In our latest blog post, Robert Okinda, Adviser: Skills at COL, shares lessons from Zambia's Open TVET Expo to explore how effective monitoring and evaluation, clear standards and regulation, blended competency-based curricula, and sustainable and affordable business models can help scale Open TVET. Read more: https://t.co/bPlmAVYm8M @MoTS_Zambia @ivetaglobal @TEVETAZM #OpenTVET #TVET #SkillsDevelopment #EducationPolicy #Zambia

[COL @COL4D]

At IGNOU’s 40th Foundation Day last year, COL President and CEO Professor Peter Scott joined university leaders to reflect on four decades of open learning and the future of inclusive digital education, ethical AI, micro-credentials and lifelong learning. Read more: https://t.co/Ak7xGvlJtu #OpenEducation #HigherEducation #DistanceLearning #LifelongLearning #AIinEducation #Microcredentials @OfficialIGNOU

[COL @COL4D]

While in Geneva, Dr Betty Ogange, Education Specialist: Teacher Education at COL, met with Dr Moira V. Faul, Executive Director of NORRAG, to explore opportunities for collaboration and build stronger partnerships for global education.

Their discussion highlighted the value of bringing greater expertise from the Global South into global education debates, drawing on NORRAG’s #TheSouthAlsoKnows initiative and shared interests in equitable knowledge production and international cooperation.

Partnerships such as these help strengthen dialogue across institutions and contribute to more inclusive, context-responsive approaches to education worldwide.

#GlobalEducation #TeacherEducation #GlobalSouth #KnowledgeExchange @norrag

[COL @COL4D]

On World Youth Skills Day, COL highlights the role of skills development in creating pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, economic independence and more sustainable livelihoods.

Through COL’s Empowering Women and Girls project, thousands of women and girls have gained access to vocational training, financial literacy and sustainable agriculture skills, helping to build more resilient and inclusive communities.

#WorldYouthSkillsDay #SkillsDevelopment #WomenAndGirls #Empowerment #SustainableLivelihoods @EWG_23 @GAC_Corporate

[COL's Empowering Women and Girls @EWG_23]

🌍 Celebrating World Youth Skills Day

We celebrate how skills create opportunities, boost confidence, and strengthen communities. At Empowering Women Girls, we're proud to support 70,000+ women and girls with vocational training.

Learn more: https://t.co/ONXN2pnm21

[COL @COL4D]

As technology rapidly transforms the educational landscape, the Commonwealth of Learning and the Centre for Global Education have launched a joint global survey to map exactly how youth around the world are engaging with technology and modern learning paths. Help us by sharing the survey with your classrooms, student networks, youth councils and school groups.
🔗 https://t.co/hctl4EVL1B #DigitalEducation #YouthVoice #GlobalCitizenship #EducationTechnology #FutureOfLearning

[COL @COL4D]

Kiribati marks 47 years of independence today!

Across Kiribati, open, distance and flexible learning is helping more people access education, build new skills and connect with employment opportunities. Working with government ministries and education providers, COL is supporting learners with pathways in micro-credentials, digital skills and youth employment, while also advancing equity and creating opportunities to strengthen women’s livelihoods.

Kiribati is also collaborating with regional partners to address challenges shared by Pacific Island states. These include strengthening education management systems, improving the resilience of education data, expanding climate change education, and building teachers’ capacity in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.

On Kiribati’s Independence Day, we celebrate the country’s progress and its continued efforts to support learners and build stronger communities.

[COL @COL4D]

The Empowering Women and Girls in the Commonwealth (EWG) project concluded on a high note in Pakistan, bringing together parliamentarians, senior government officials, project partners, community members and, most importantly, the women and girls who participated in the project.

Speaking on behalf of the High Commission of Canada to Pakistan, Ms Sasha Oliveira, Second Secretary (Development), highlighted the project’s contribution to broader systemic change, including sustained advocacy for child marriage reforms, stronger school protection mechanisms and greater recognition of gender equality in local and national policy discussions. She also commended partners Bedari and SPARC for continuing to deliver results despite challenges, including climate-related shocks.

Reflecting on the project’s lasting impact, Ms Frances Ferreira, Senior Adviser: Gender, COL, highlighted how the EWG project had strengthened local institutions, community networks and partnerships.

“I leave convinced that the seeds planted through the EWG project will continue to grow, inspiring new opportunities and transforming lives for many years to come.”

The celebration brought this impact to life through the premiere of On Her Feet, a video portraying the journey of a young woman gaining the confidence to stand on her own feet. Ms Anbreen Ajaib, CEO of Bedari, said the video reflected the experiences of women and girls who had moved from being hesitant to speak out to becoming advocates for themselves and their communities. The event also featured a Beneficiary Exhibition, where women entrepreneurs proudly showcased their businesses, talents and achievements.

#WomensEmpowerment #GenderEquality #GirlsEducation #SkillsDevelopment #SustainableLivelihoods @EWG_23 @GAC_Corporate @SPARC_PK @BedariPakistan

[COL @COL4D]

The Bahamas celebrates 53 years of independence today!

As The Bahamas celebrates this important milestone, COL is honoured to work with the Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training and education providers to expand access to lifelong learning and strengthen pathways from education to employment for teachers, youth and learners across the country. Together, we are helping advance micro-credentials, supporting climate action through education, and helping institutions respond to national priorities and the shared opportunities and challenges facing small island states in the Caribbean.

We look forward to continuing our collaboration with The Bahamas to expand access to open learning for all. @BahamasMoe @University_Bah

[COL @COL4D]

How can digital public infrastructure help open new pathways for learning and work?

Delegates from Barbados, St Kitts and Nevis, and Namibia joined a recent study visit hosted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago and convened by COL to explore digital public infrastructure for verifiable credentials, lifelong learning and expanded employment opportunities. COL is grateful to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for hosting the visit, and would like to thank Senator the Honourable Prof Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, Trinidad and Tobago, for his leadership and engagement with the delegates. Learn more: https://t.co/wGPtPxsnEb

#DigitalCredentials #MicroCredentials #LifelongLearning #SkillsDevelopment #FutureOfWork @iGovTT @uttmarketing @NESCTT

[COL @COL4D]

How can institutions design online learning that truly works for learners? After leading a recent workshop at COL headquarters on micro-credential impact and learner value, Dr Caroline Steel, Founder and Principal Strategic Educational Consultant of Caroline Steel Global Consulting, sat down with us to discuss her top five tips for making online learning models effective, inclusive and fit for purpose. #OnlineLearning #HigherEducation #MicroCredentials #DigitalLearning #InclusiveEducation

[COL @COL4D]

Solomon Islands celebrates 48 years of independence today!

Across Solomon Islands, open learning is creating more flexible ways for people to access education and develop new skills. The country is strengthening its capacity for open and distance learning (ODL), exploring the use of open educational resources, and expanding micro-credentials to support more inclusive lifelong learning. Efforts to build teachers' confidence and skills in using AI are also helping prepare educators and students for the future of STEM education.

Skills training delivered through ODL is opening new opportunities for youth, young women, and persons with disabilities. At the same time, initiatives that promote gender equality, advocacy, and climate action are helping strengthen livelihoods and build more resilient communities.

On this day, COL celebrates Solomon Islands' achievements and looks forward to continuing its partnership to expand access to quality learning opportunities for everyone.

[COL @COL4D]

Malawi celebrates 62 years of independence today!

Learners, educators and institutions in Malawi are benefiting from continued progress in open schooling, higher education, skills development and gender equality. COL has worked with Malawi to expand access to open learning by supporting micro-credentials, national guidelines and policies, and approaches that recognise the value of prior learning.

Through Girls Inspire and the Empowering Women and Girls project, Malawi has empowered women and girls by helping them return to school, reducing early marriage, improving health outcomes, and expanding opportunities for education and economic participation. Efforts to strengthen agricultural self-sufficiency and deliver learning in low-bandwidth environments are also helping to build pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

We look forward to deepening our collaboration with Malawi to make open education more equitable, inclusive, and accessible in the years to come. @mzunionline @unima_official @EWG_23

[COL @COL4D]

What if the future of AI in education is not bigger models, but more local ones?

Ricky Zhiyong Cheng explores COL’s Frugal AI approach: using the right level of AI for the task, while keeping infrastructure, data governance and public accountability closer to home. https://t.co/ZU5aRoyqTt

#FrugalAI #DigitalSovereignty #AIinEducation #OpenLearning #EdTech #SustainableAI #Commonwealth #COL4D

[COL @COL4D]

As demand for flexible, inclusive and lifelong learning grows, institutions need practical strategies to make open and distance learning sustainable. A new publication, Implementing ODL: Practical Guidelines for Sustainable Deployment, authored by Prof. Sir Michael N Nkwenti, offers an evidence-informed framework to help educational institutions design, implement and scale effective ODL systems. Access the publication: https://t.co/UoiHIBQXq0

#OpenAndDistanceLearning #ODL #OpenLearning #HigherEducation #EducationForAll @michaelnkwenti

[COL @COL4D]

India is advancing open learning at scale, strengthening access, quality, employability, and digital innovation across its education system.

Through partnerships with the Government of India, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University, the National Institute of Open Schooling, the National Council of Educational Research and Training, and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council, COL is supporting these efforts to help shape more inclusive and future-ready education across the Commonwealth.

Learn more about India’s leadership in open and distance learning: https://t.co/QB35tTvdVI

#OpenLearning #DistanceEducation #DigitalLearning #IndiaEducation #EducationForAll @EduMinIndia @BAOUGujarat @shri_institute @ncert

[COL @COL4D]

Happy Canada Day!

COL proudly celebrates Canada, home to our headquarters since 1987, when the Government of Canada offered to host COL in British Columbia.

Canada’s commitment to inclusion, human rights, innovation and sustainable development continues to inspire action across the Commonwealth. We are especially grateful for Canada’s longstanding support of COL’s mission to expand access to quality learning and improve livelihoods.

Through the generous support of Global Affairs Canada, the Empowering Women and Girls project has helped advance education, gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment across five participating countries. Learn more about the EWG project’s progress in the Empowering Women and Girls in the Commonwealth Project: Annual Report 2025 https://t.co/DyKuSb5xu4.

Thank you, Canada, for helping transform lives through learning.

@MarkJCarney
@GAC_Corporate
@randeepssarai
@Dave_Eby
@COL4D
@emifuruya1
@jmaloten