Connections/EdTech News, June 2005

There is eager anticipation within COL and the small states of the Commonwealth as 20 of the 32 small states have responded positively to the Invitation to Participate in the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) sent out in November 2004 by Sir John Daniel, COL President and CEO. The 20 small states have also identified their education and training needs. These needs are being analysed and will form the basis of discussions between the key contact persons nominated by each country.

As the small states were considering participation in the VUSSC, COL conducted a research study, "Environmental Scan of e-Learning Capabilities in Small States of the Commonwealth". Carried out by John Henly, it explores:

• the eLearning capabilities within ministries of education, universities and other education institutions in small states,
• other eLearning developments, especially those in the area of Free and Open Source Software, Reusable Learning Objects and other areas of eLearning, and
• business models for eLearning sustainability.

Both the study and expressed needs will serve as the basis for Phase Two and Phase Three as outlined in the Invitation to Participate. These phases will refine the educational needs being expressed, identify the modality of addressing these needs and ensure that the country representatives have a good understanding of the process. The country representatives will then meet to iron out further issues and sign a Letter of Intent, which commits the country and institutions to certain responsibilities.

Based on this agreement, training and course production will begin as envisaged in Phase 3.

"The key to unlocking human potential, and creating opportunity, is education," said Queen Elizabeth in her Commonwealth Day Message on 14 March. She also referred to COL's important role in expanding distance education, noting that knowledge-based economies are the key to future prosperity.

Addressing this year's theme of "Education - creating opportunity, realising potential", Her Majesty described education as the golden thread that binds the Commonwealth. "Our shared use of a common world language - English - has underpinned a long and rich tradition of educational co-operation," she said. "With our shared practices and similar systems, an extensive network of scholarships and many examples of excellence, much has been achieved."

A clear objective for the Commonwealth is the UN Millennium Development Goal of achieving universal primary education by 2015, The Queen noted. A second objective is mitigating the effects of HIV and AIDS, which in some countries causes the death of more teachers each year than can be met by newly qualified replacements. The third objective, she said, is expanding distance education "through bodies such as the Commonwealth of Learning - based in Canada - which encourages Commonwealth countries to pool their expertise."

The Queen concluded her address by expressing appreciation to those involved in education, saying, "To everyone throughout the Commonwealth who is working towards this worthy goal, I extend my heartfelt thanks."