Connections, April 1997  

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COL, COMNET-IT sign MoU

The Chairmen of COL and COMNET-IT have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together in the growing field of distance education, agreeing that their organisations will "co-operate and collaborate in strengthening the delivery of distance learning programmes through the use of information and communications technologies." Dr. Ian Macdonald, Chairman of COL's Board of Governors, and Dr. S. Ramani, Chairman of the Commonwealth Network of Information Technology for Development, also co-chaired a meeting that launched the new Network and provided briefings to Commonwealth professional organisations on the technology-related activities and future plans of both organisations.

COMNET-IT is an independent Commonwealth-sponsored foundation located in Malta with Mr. Henry Alamango as Executive Director. Its mission is to facilitate Internet-based development, promoting awareness, capacity-building and networked computer connectivity for Commonwealth institutions and individuals around the world. (Web site: www.comnet-it.org)

The meeting was hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat in London on March 14, 1997. Briefings were conducted by Mr. Alamango and Dr. Abdul Khan, COL's Principal Communications Specialist.   CEMCAThe Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) has been providing a series of participant-paid training workshops for associated institutions in India and South Asia. Following the success of a workshop on the management of non-print media resources, held last November, CEMCA presented a programme last month on presentation and interviewing techniques for educational broadcasters. Leading media persons shared their experience in various sessions.

Forthcoming programmes include workshops on the use of multi-media in distance learning and on script-writing for the National Open School.

Earlier this year, CEMCA hosted a visit by Commonwealth Broadcasting Association Secretary General, Ms. Elizabeth Smith. Collaborative projects were discussed. Workshops The following workshops have been held recently under COL auspices. They were organised by Ms. Susan Phillips, Educational Specialist (Materials and Open Schooling). Reports are available.

• A workshop in Luanshya, Zambia on the potential of training laboratory technicians by distance. It was held in collaboration with the World Federation of Technology Organisations, the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa, the Commonwealth Secretariat and UNESCO. Participants came from four Commonwealth countries in Africa and opening remarks were delivered by The Honourable Dr. Kabunda Koyongo, former Zambian Minister of Science, Technology and Vocational Training. A follow-up workshop has also been scheduled.
• An international workshop to raise awareness on the Potential of Open Schooling for Women and Girls, hosted by the Allama Iqbal Open University in Pakistan, with support from UNICEF. The final report includes a selection of papers.
• An international meeting of experts, convened to discuss issues and arrive at recommendations for COL's work in the transfer of learning materials. A set of protocols, to facilitate such transfers, was developed and will be presented to Commonwealth Education Ministers for their endorsement. The workshop was funded by the UK Overseas Development Administration and held at the UK Open University. It was chaired by Professor Lindsay Mackay of Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. Participation came from 13 Commonwealth countries.

Southeast Asia COL was invited to participate at the 32nd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Conference, which was held in Manila from February 25 to March 1, 1997. Mr. Peter McMechan, COL's Director, Regions, attended on behalf of the President of COL.

Mr. McMechan, along with COL's Regional Adviser to the President for Southeast Asia, Dato' Dr. Sharom Ahmat (President, Kolej Disted, Penang), also attended meetings with the Department of Private Education at the Malaysian Ministry of Education. COL is assisting the department with the task of evaluating and licensing private tertiary colleges that wish to offer distance education programmes and also establish a "virtual university."  President's visit During February and March, COL's President, Dato' Dr. Gajaraj Dhanarajan, met with Ministers of Education and other government and education officials throughout Eastern and Southern Africa. Discussions included the progress of current projects, potential and plans for many more, the development of COL's three-year plan, and the encouraging support and appreciation that COL can expect from Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe at the upcoming Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (July; Gaborone, Botswana).

In Tanzania, Dr. Dhanarajan inaugurated the Open University of Tanzania's Regional Centre in Dar es Salaam.

Unfortunately, the President was not able to visit other countries on this occasion, but COL's Regional Advisors continue to provide constructive representation for COL throughout the sub-continent. They are consulted regularly by Governments and have attended several regional forums. Professor Geoffrey Mmari (Vice Chancellor, Open University of Tanzania) covers Eastern Africa and Mr. Jakes Swartland (Co-ordinator, Revised Policy on Education, Botswana Ministry of Education) represents COL in Southern Africa  Distance education associations Support for national and regional distance education associations are key part of the work that COL accomplishes in Southern Africa. These professional associations as well as educational bodies are represented on COL's Programme Advisory Committee for Southern Africa, which met on March 11 in Gaborone, Botswana. The Honourable Dr. G.K.T. Chiepe, Minister of Education, Botswana chaired the meeting.

The annual general meeting of the Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA) was hosted by the University of Namibia on March 15 and 16, 1997. Professor Peter Kinyanjui, Principal Education Specialist (Teacher Education), reviewed COL's work and plans with delegates at the meeting. With the change in executive officers that took place at the AGM, DEASA's secretariat is now located in Windhoek, Namibia. With assistance from COL and Technikon South Africa, DEASA will be co-ordinating Internet connectivity between member institutions and the secretariat. DEASA will also participate at the parallel educational technology conference and exhibition that will take place in conjunction with the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers in Botswana in July. This year's AGM successfully required that all delegates be responsible for their own travel costs.

COL is also hoping to provide assistance in the establishment of a national association in Zimbabwe during 1997/98.  

South Africa The Confederation of Open Learning Institutions of South Africa (COLISA) has been formed in order to collaborate in the areas of finance and resource sharing, academic development, technology applications, and the provision of joint core programmes and courses. Founding member institutions are Technikon SA, the University of South Africa, and Vista University. A National Commission on Higher Education recently envisioned such collaboration among institutions offering distance education programmes in South Africa.

COLISA has also been active internationally, working with the Tertiary Education Commission of Mauritius and Ministries of Education in both countries to co-ordinate the activities of a Distance Education Interest Group within the Association for the Development of Education in Africa. COL's President participated in a meeting of the group while in South Africa in March.

The South African Institute for Distance Education (SAIDE) has released a report entitled, Teacher Education Offered at a Distance in South Africa. This report was compiled as part of a national audit of teacher education in the country and contains detailed survey information, analysis and suggestions for future development. It is available for purchase from SAIDE in two forms: full report (US$33 or R150) and summary report (US$10 or R45)

Also available from SAIDE is Open Learning and Distance Education in South Africa, which was published in 1995 on the basis of research done in 1994 (US$15 or R60). It is the report of an international commission that studied distance education and open learning in South Africa, at the request of the African National Congress. Findings and recommendations were reviewed by COL in the June 1995 edition of COMLEARN(page 9). Contact: SAIDE Resource Centre, PO Box 31822, Braamfontein 2017, South Africa; Tel: 27.11.403.2813; Fax: 27.11.403.2814; E-mail: saide@icon.co.za  

Lifelong Learning Conference The Second Global Conference on Lifelong Learning was held recently in Ottawa, Canada. COL's participation included the delivery of a pre-conference workshop focusing on effective application of appropriate distance learning techniques and technologies in support of non-formal education. Case studies from various parts of the Commonwealth were presented along with the results of recent research conducted by COL. The COL workshop was led by Dr. Abdul Khan, Principal Communications Specialist, and Ms. Patricia McWilliams, Senior Training Specialist.  

Digital Radio in Africa

Opening New Frontiers in Learning will be held at the Ghana International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Accra, April 27 - 29, 1997. The international conference is being organised by The Commonwealth of Learning, in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Education and WorldSpace Inc. Participants will discuss how new and emerging technologies - and especially digital radio - can be used to implement effective learning strategies in Africa and how new trends in distance education are likely to shape future roles and responsibilities within the continent. Registrants will also have an opportunity to share educational lessons and experiences with colleagues from other countries in Africa and elsewhere. Conference participants will include Ministers of Education, education planners, NGOs, donors and policy makers. The working languages of the conference are English and French.

Taking advantage of the experts gathered at this international conference, The Commonwealth of Learning is also organising a pan-African consultation on non-formal distance learning (facilitated by Dr. Abdul Khan and Ms. Patricia McWilliams).

A leader in digital radio technology, WorldSpace Inc. is broadcasting direct from satellite to Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia/Southeast Asia. As part of the conference agenda, WorldSpace is exhibiting its technology, including a prototype of a new radio capable of receiving audio, text, data and images. WorldSpace will be making available channels of the AfriStar satellite for the purpose of distance education in Africa.