Together, let's help build a better Commonwealth! "Friends of the Commonwealth" is a new initiative for people who share an interest in issues related to the Commonwealth. Hosted by the Commonwealth Foundation, the community building website allows people to share their experiences, build networks, find out what's happening around the Commonwealth and support projects that improve the lives of people in the Commonwealth.
Friends is a group of people whose aim is to promote the good work going on around the Commonwealth and to give people a chance to find out more about it.
Over time it is intended to build a thriving group of Friends from around the Commonwealth, drawn together by a wish to learn more, share more and achieve more, by supporting a variety of Commonwealth related causes and projects.
Friends work in partnership with many Commonwealth organisations and associations. Coming together as individuals, Friends network and build support in what ever ways they can, to do more for others around the Commonwealth.
Friends welcome the involvement of everyone who has an interest in the work and achievements of the Commonwealth. Friends can express their own views and exchange them online with others. They can search for international development jobs and internships. They can offer their services as mentors, advisers or simply as "Friends" to those seeking information or advice around the Commonwealth. They can volunteer, attend online and face-to-face Friends events and build their own networks and contacts.
You can start your participation in this community by signing up for the "Friends" regular e-update newsletter.
www.commonwealthfoundation.com/friends
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand has launched a new online certificate to help education and training professionals develop capacity in eLearning. The Certificate in Designing and Facilitating eLearning programme blends adult and distance learning theory with a hands-on approach to facilitating learning online. It has been designed for educators working with adult distance learners.
www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/programmesandcourses/op5440
Wawasan Open University hosted two five-day workshops on open and distance learning (ODL) design, planning and implementation for policy makers and practitioners from Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam. The workshops used freely available COL learning materials, such as the Knowledge Series, and were sponsored by Canada's International Development Research Centre. Wawasan Open University is Malaysia's first private not-for-profit tertiary institution dedicated to working adults.
www.wou.edu.my
www.col.org/knowledge
India's Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) launched IGNOU Online in June 2008. The portal offers all of the university's knowledge resources online, including audio/visual materials, live webcasts of radio and TV channels, eGyanKosh (digital repository of knowledge resources), virtual classrooms and Sakshat (the Ministry of Human Resource Development's one-stop educational portal). IGNOU Online enables the university's students in 35 countries to access live telecasts and extensive digital resources.
www.ignouonline.ac.in