Caribbean stakeholders chart a path for Commonwealth framework for micro-credentials.
As part of its ongoing effort to advance equitable and flexible learning pathways across the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) @COL4D, in partnership with The University of the West Indies (UWI), convened a high-level regional consultation on micro-credentials and credit transfer in Kingston, Jamaica. Hosted at UWI Mona Campus @UWImona, the two-day workshop brought together senior officials, institutional leaders, and accreditation stakeholders from twelve countries across the Caribbean and Canada to contribute to the development of a Commonwealth-wide Micro-Credentials Credit Transfer Framework (M-CCTF).
Held under the theme “Developing a Commonwealth Credit Transfer Framework: Micro-credentials in a Digital Age”, this was one of five regional consultations designed to ensure the framework reflects diverse regional perspectives and national priorities across the Commonwealth.
Participants included representatives throughout the Caribbean, including Permanent Secretaries, Chief Education Officers, university executives, accreditation leaders, and regional partners such as the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) @MyCXC and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) @CARICOMorg.
Opening the meeting with a virtual message, Professor Peter Scott, President and CEO of COL, emphasised micro-credentials' value as part of a more agile and accessible approach to education and workforce readiness.
Dr Tamika Benjamin, Assistant Chief Education Officer, Tertiary Unit, Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, affirmed Jamaica’s strong commitment to the initiative, “The development of a Commonwealth Micro-Credentials Credit Transfer Framework is timely and necessary. It aligns with Jamaica’s strategic goals of expanding access to flexible learning pathways and improving employability. We see it as a regional imperative that will transform how education systems respond to labour market realities.”
The sessions featured deep dives into regional readiness, governance models, digital verification platforms, and institutional practices, all toward developing the Commonwealth Micro-Credentials Credit Transfer Framework (M-CCTF).
A highlight of the workshop was a virtual presentation from Mr Chad Doerksen, Director of Post-Secondary Policy, Ministry of Post-Secondary and Future Skills, British Columbia, Canada. He shared insights from British Columbia’s provincial micro-credential framework, including principles for credit portability, labour market alignment, and coordinated implementation, offering valuable models for adaptation in Caribbean contexts.
Reflecting on the importance of the gathering, Dr Schontal Moore, COL’s Team Lead for the Caribbean Meeting, remarked, “This workshop has proven that small states can lead big innovations. Through regional cooperation, we are co-creating a system that responds to learners, industries, and national development priorities.”
The outcomes of this workshop will inform the final draft of the M-CCTF, to be presented at the upcoming CARICOM Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD).
#COL4D #MicroCredentials #EducationInnovation #CaribbeanEducation #SkillsForTheFuture #DigitalLearning #LifelongLearning #EdTech #GlobalEducation
... See MoreSee Less
"Get ready for the world’s leading event in open and distance learning! From September 10th to 12th, 2025, join global experts at the Eleventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF11) — hosted by the Commonwealth of Learning in partnership with Botswana Open University and the Ministry of Higher Education.
📍 Live from the Gaborone International Convention Centre, PCF11 is your gateway to cutting-edge insights, collaboration, and innovation in open, online, and flexible learning.
💡 Don’t miss this chance to shape the future of education and development!
🎟️ Register now and be part of the change!
... See MoreSee Less
COL President Addresses ODeLAN 2025.
Professor Peter Scott, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning (@COL4D), delivered a keynote address at the Third International Conference of the Open, Distance and eLearning Association of Nigeria (ODeLAN), held at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Conference Centre in Abuja.
In his virtual remarks, Professor Scott highlighted the urgent need for adaptive pedagogies that connect learners, technologies, and communities, particularly in contexts striving for greater equity and resilience in education. He reaffirmed COL’s commitment to supporting innovation in open and distance learning across the Commonwealth, including Nigeria’s leadership in this space.
The hybrid event, co-hosted by ODeLAN and NOUN, convened educators, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders under the theme: “Adaptive Pedagogies for the Future of Education: Connecting Learners, Technologies, and Communities.”
Key thematic tracks included:
• Policy, Management, and Infrastructure
• Innovative Pedagogies
• Community Engagement
Watch Professor Scott’s full address here: vimeo.com/1083042474/c502216a2a?share=copy.
#COL4D #ODELAN2025 #ODL #HigherEducation #DigitalLearning #Nigeria #OpenLearning #LeadershipInEducation #EdTech #FutureOfLearning
... See MoreSee Less
;
