OPEN SCHOOLING FOR SECONDARY AND HIGHER EDUCATION:

By Greville Rumble and Badri N. Koul

"Open Schooling for Secondary and Higher Education" explores the provision of secondary level Open Schooling in India and Namibia, which are significantly different in their basic characteristics. The study examines the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) in India and the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL). The focus is on issues such as cost-benefit of the open school model, student profiles, how open schools complement the formal system, learner success, course development, open school management and quality assurance.

The study was carried out by two experts in the field, Professor Badri N. Koul, who researched NIOS, and Professor Greville Rumble, who researched NAMCOL, and is available on COL's website.

TOWARDS A COMMONWEALTH OF LEARNING: TWENTY YEARS OF PROGRESS

Report of the Commonwealth of Learning to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), Kampala, Uganda, November 2007

This report shows how COL has expanded learning in support of the goals and aspirations expressed by Heads of Governments at their meetings over the past 20 years.

INSTITUTIONAL TRIAL QUALITY AUDIT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA

In preparation for a Quality Assurance audit by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the South African Council on Higher Education, the University of South Africa (Unisa) invited COL to undertake a trial audit. COL established a panel of distance learning specialists to undertake this audit in June 2007. The Trial Audit Panel's report includes an overview of Quality Assurance management at Unisa, comments and suggestions for Unisa to consider, and Commendations and Recommendations based on the audit criteria set by the HEQC.

GENDER IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION: A HANDBOOK FOR POLICY-MAKERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

By Ramya Subrahmanian, 2007

A new title in the Commonwealth Secretariat's New Gender Mainstreaming Series on Development Issues, this book has been written in the context of rapidly expanding education systems worldwide, and particularly the rising enrolment of girls in schools. The author argues that now the challenge of gender mainstreaming goes beyond building schools and ensuring access to sustaining these gains to secure the future of education for girls. Thus gender mainstreaming in education needs to address the more strategic questions of the relationship between education and wider development and change, and of the relationships between men and women in a rapidly changing world. The handbook is essential reading for civil servants involved in education sector management, policy planners, education policy analysts and professionals, civil society organisers and academics.

REPORT OF THE VISITATION PANEL TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA

The University of Ghana invited a panel of international scholars and experts, chaired by COL President Sir John Daniel, to review its activities and recommend steps that would enhance its role as Ghana's premier university and research institution and enable it to become a leader in global higher education. The Visitation Panel conducted two week-long visits in April and August 2007. Their findings and recommendations for action are laid out in this report.

www.col.org/GhanaVisitation

A STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE OPEN UNIVERSITIES IN INDIA

By T. Rajagopalan

This report examines the growth of State Open Universities in India, starting with the launch of the first state open university in 1982. It explores issues such as cost, course offerings, student support and quality assurance. The report also looks at the role of Indira Gandhi National Open University's Distance Education Council in training and funding of state open universities.

www.col.org/consultancies

FLEXIBLE HIGHER EDUCATION: REFLECTIONS FROM EXPERT EXPERIENCE

Edited by Elizabeth Burge

This book analyses the work of over 40 pioneers who helped drive recent changes in higher education via distance education. It examines issues such as coping with traditional resistance, developing new teaching and learning models, and use of technology. One of the chapters is authored by COL's President, Sir John Daniel.

"Flexible Higher Education" will be of interest to post-secondary educators who are interested in learning and teaching design, quality assurance, learner access and inclusion, innovation in higher education and respect for reflective wisdom. It is available for £29.99 from Open University Press. Sir John's Chapter, "Reflections on a Career in Distance Education" (January 2007), is available at no charge on COL's website.

http://mcgraw-hill.co.uk/html/0335217761 .

www.col.org/speeches07