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Table of Contents First Announcement |
Commonwealth |
1 - 5 March 1999 |
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FORUM ON OPEN LEARNING |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
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Empowerment through Knowledge and Technology A Celebration of Ten Years of The Commonwealth of Learning Co-hosted by the Brunei Darussalam
Ministry of Education and |
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Table of Contents First Announcement |
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The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is pleased to announce a Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open
Learning with the theme of Empowerment through Knowledge and Technology.
This important five-day event will be held at the International
Convention Centre in Bandar Seri Begawan, from 1 – 5 March 1999, and commemorates
the tenth anniversary of COL. It will be co-hosted by COL, the Brunei Darussalam Ministry
of Education and Universiti Brunei Darussalam and mounted
in collaboration with the
Commonwealth’s open and distance
learning professional associations.
The Forum is designed to help the countries of the Commonwealth to:
The Forum focuses on the needs of professionals and practitioners, namely:
The Commonwealth represents one quarter of the world’s population and a rich diversity of races, cultures, creeds and beliefs. One thing common to all of the nations of the Commonwealth, large or small, rich or poor, is the need to extend and enhance human resource development to meet the challenges of the new millennium. Open learning is a powerful means of providing access and flexibility in initial and lifelong education and training and empowering the disadvantaged and the marginalised.
This Forum will examine open learning in world-at-large applications ranging from the macro to the micro level. It will showcase what is achievable with vision, concern for the learner, effective teaching and learning, and appropriate applications of technology. It will address agendas ranging from basic literacy to postgraduate and professional education.
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REGISTRATION FEE, MEALS AND ACCOMMODATION
The Forum registration fee is US$400. This covers the costs of registration, the Proceedings, all lunches and refreshments throughout the Round Table and Forum, three dinners hosted by the Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Education, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and COL, local transport to and from the Forum, and visits to local educational institutions and places of interest. At no additional cost, accommodation and breakfast in the UBD student hostels is available on a "first come, first served" basis (upon submitting completed registration and fee). Delegates may also choose to stay at their own expense in the UBD Guest House, SEAMEO Voctech International House, the ASEAN-EC Management Centre or hotels in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam. Partial subsidies will be considered on a case-by-case basis for participants from developing Commonwealth countries.
Unfortunately, due to facility restrictions, conference organisers must reserve the right to limit numbers attending from each country or organisation.
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PROGRAMME OUTLINE
The Forum will be designed to achieve maximum participation and interaction and to meet the needs of newcomers to open learning as well as those more experienced in this field.
Round table
The five-day programme will start with a one-day round table. This event will enable delegates to meet and share ideas, experiences and achievements in open learning within all sectors and regions of the Commonwealth.
Keynote and plenary sessions
The four-day Forum will feature keynote and plenary presentations by distinguished international speakers and open educators which will set the context for the Forum and the agenda for the next decade of open learning in the Commonwealth.
Parallel sessions
The Forum’s parallel sessions will take the form of case studies (half-hour) and workshops (one-hour). There will be five sets of parallel sessions on the themes of:
Papers will be grouped within these five parallel sessions by topic:
The Forum organisers are keen to receive papers on open learning used for such basic programmes as literacy, family/community health and agricultural development, formal educational and training, and visionary applications such as supporting peace-keeping, reconciliation and human rights, and meeting the needs of migrants and refugees.
Other events
The Forum will provide opportunities for delegates to meet informally to discuss matters of mutual interest, share examples of their work, participate in meetings of regional distance/open learning associations and special interest groups, take part in round tables, and visit educational institutions and places of interest.
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POSTERS AND DISPLAYS
Delegates will be encouraged to bring posters and examples of programmes and courseware to showcase work being undertaken at all levels across the Commonwealth. These may be "high tech" or "low tech". Facilities will be provided for the prominent display of these posters and materials in the Forum Exhibition.
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SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PAPERS
A Second Announcement, call for papers, registration information/forms and background material on the host country, institution and venue will follow. Details will also be available on the Internet or directly from the Secretariat. Expressions of interest, suggestions and comments are also welcome.
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