A programme of study leading to a "Commonwealth master's degree" in business and public administration may soon be available by distance internationally. The programme would be developed and delivered through a consortium of Commonwealth universities and co-ordinated by The Commonwealth of Learning.

Representatives of The Commonwealth of Learning, the Commonwealth Secretariat and seven Commonwealth universities met in London in November to discuss the development of such a joint master's programme. Based on the success of two previous meetings which examined the feasibility and desirability of such a programme, funding for this final consultation and some initial programme development was provided by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) under agreement with COL.

The London meeting was chaired by Dato' Dr. Gajaraj Dhanarajan, President and CEO of COL, and attended by Vice-Chancellors and other experts from four major open universities (Bangladesh Open University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, the Open University of Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom Open University) as well as representatives from Deakin University (Australia), the University of Victoria (Canada) and York University (Canada). COL's Director, Programmes, Dr. Ian Mugridge, Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Nick Hare, and other Commonwealth Secretariat staff also contributed to the consultations. Unfortunately, representatives from Pakistan's Allama Iqbal Open University were prevented at the last moment from attending.

Based on a pre-conference proposal prepared by Professor Rakesh Khurana of IGNOU, discussions on the first day of the London meeting focused on curriculum matters. By the end of the day, participants had agreed on the feasibility of the proposal, common private/public sector administrative elements and potential sources of individual courses to be developed and delivered Commonwealth-wide.

The second day was devoted to more practical matters related to the delivery of the programme. There was agreement that an operating model could be developed that would allow institutions to contribute courses which they would deliver, providing their own guarantee of quality. These courses could then be fully accredited by a local institution or by COL. Specific arrangements would need to be varied from place to place around the Commonwealth depending on local needs and on the commitments of provider institutions.

Finally, participants expressed their support for the development of a detailed programme proposal with a view to launching a pilot in South Asia. If successful, the programme could then be expanded to include other Commonwealth countries, particularly the small states, where there is considerable demand for such opportunities. The programme would be an ideal complement to COL's Rajiv Gandhi Fellowship Scheme which provides access to master's degrees in distance education.

COL will continue to take the initiative in this area and hopes to involve additional partners both in Asia and elsewhere. Interested institutions are invited to contact The Commonwealth of Learning. Comments and suggestions are also welcome.

Slow start but sustainable - Establishing a computer training centre in northern Zambia

On the Copperbelt in northern Zambia, within the National Correspondence College ( NCC ), is a unique and surprising facility. Upstairs, in a building characteristic of the austerity given to government buildings, behind a heavily barred door, you will find probably the most up-to-date computer training centre in Zambia. Air conditioned and scrupulously clean, the facility is the pride of the college. How did it happen that the Correspondence College is home to such a facility?

"South-South" co-operation

In 1990, at a conference hosted by COL in Hong Kong on Technical and Vocational Education and Training by Distance, representatives of the Open University of Sri Lanka ( OUSL ) were demonstrating their Computer Awareness programme, which is offered by distance education. The two Zambians that were present saw the potential for a programme of this nature on the Copperbelt. With COL acting as a co-ordinating body, the two institutions collaborated to enable the NCC to offer the OUSL programme.

Since training in computer awareness requires computers - and the NCC did not own any - COL mobilised its resources to establish a facility that houses ten "486"-grade computers and the supporting peripheral equipment and training manuals. NCC provided the space, the security screens on the doors and windows, and the Zambian Distance Education Centre provided the air conditioning. OUSL was contracted to provide its modified course materials and training for the Zambian staff.

Overcoming obstacles

The early years were beset with problems, with hardware maintenance and lack of trained staff being the most significant. Trying to convert the staff of a correspondence college into computer instructors, from a near zero skill base level, required training, training and more training. Additional support came from surprising avenues. A young American, working with the Zambian Christian Fellowships, who happened to have a PhD in computer science, was one of the most significant supports the staff had in the beginning when panic was a constant companion. His presence in the centre, at no cost, not only offered technical assistance, but also the moral support that having an expert on call promoted.

Toward sustainability

Today, nearly six years from its beginning in Hong Kong, the centre is a thriving hub of entrepreneurial activity. With a well trained and dedicated staff, the centre is not only offering training to individual students, but has attracted contracts with industry and Government agencies. Despite the loss of staff to promotion within the Ministry of Education, the centre has maintained a strong core of excellent trainers, who are providing a service to the community that is affordable, accessible and flexible. And, compared to commercial enterprises, its fees are minimal.

The most recent move to ensure a lack of dependence on external assistance was to train two members of the computer centre staff in basic computer operational maintenance. This was achieved by an attachment of two NCC staff to the Technical College of South Africa (Technisa), which provided a unique training opportunity, geared to the needs of the centre.

A second development has been the installation of Internet access and the capacity to utilise electronic-mail for better communication. COL provided the necessary hardware and subscription to the local carriers, which included training. The frustration of long delays in communication between COL and the NCC is hopefully over as the computer centre takes this next step forward in becoming part of the communications network of the nineties.

At this point, the centre is now considered sustainable which bears witness to the dedication of the staff concerned, the institution itself and the Ministry of Education.

Ministry support

Projects such as this cannot succeed without support from within. The Ministry of Education has been totally supportive and has continued to liaise with COL on the development of both the staff and the promotion of the centre. Mr. Chabwe Chisunka, Director, Department of Continuing Education, Ministry of Education, (and Principal of NCC at the time the centre was initiated), wrote:

The computer centre at the National Correspondence College has become the pride of the Ministry of Education, and in particular, my Department. In view of that we should at all costs endeavour to maintain it because it is a flag carrier of vocational training through distance education.

Other international support

The centre has also attracted support from an international service organisation in the form of scholarships offered to women. A recent recipient of one of these awards, a thirty-year-old unemployed woman with three children, wrote:

I am so thankful for [you] offering me such an opportunity as it will help me a long way. This course is expensive in our country and had it not been for your sponsorship I would not even dream of taking such a step. I strongly feel if I can complete this course I will be able to get employment and this in turn will benefit me and my family, since my husband is out of employment on medical grounds. I once again thank you so much for your kind assistance and I wish you God's blessings in your work.

PIC

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