A Pacific Journey of Reflection.
In May 2025, the final evaluation mission for the Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) @COL4D Partnership for Open, Distance and Flexible Learning in the Pacific, with funding from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) @MFATNZ, travelled across Fiji and Samoa — a journey to meet the people and institutions who’ve brought this initiative to life.
In Suva, Fiji, evaluators sat down with the University of the South Pacific's @UniSouthPacific PACFOLD Centre, the Ministry of Education, and key partners, including FemLINK Pacific and Pacific Polytech.
In Nadi, they connected with grassroots leaders at FRIEND Fiji and the Online TVET Toolkit team, working to expand access to community-based skills training.
In Apia, Samoa, the team was welcomed by the National University of Samoa and held powerful conversations with government ministries, youth hubs, and small business spaces where flexible learning has become a lifeline for opportunity.
From classrooms to community centres, this mission provided an opportunity to reflect on five years of progress toward accessible, inclusive, and resilient education across nine Pacific nations.
Vinaka vakalevu and fa’afetai tele lava to all who shared their time, stories, and insights. These voices will shape the final report — and the future of flexible learning in the Pacific.
#ODFLPacific #COL4D #MFATNZ #FlexibleLearning #PacificEducation #Fiji #Samoa #TVET #STEM #YouthSkills #FRIENDFiji #MFATNZ #NewZealand
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Tonga National University council approves institutional ODFL policy.
Recently, the Council of Tonga National University (TNU) officially approved the university’s open, distance, and flexible learning (ODFL) policy, solidifying its commitment to expanding access to inclusive and resilient education across the Kingdom of Tonga. This decisive move marks a significant institutional milestone, signalling strong leadership and readiness to implement ODFL as a core strategy for equitable education delivery.
The policy approval follows a three-day stakeholders’ engagement workshop held in May 2025, facilitated by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) @COL4D. The workshop brought together senior university management and faculty representatives to develop and validate the institutional ODFL policy collaboratively.
In his opening remarks during the workshop, Vice Chancellor Dr Giulio Masasso Tu’ikolongahau Pāunga reaffirmed TNU’s commitment to educational transformation, stating, “Today, we reaffirm TNU’s commitment to a national drive for inclusive, flexible learning – a vision aligned with the Tonga Strategic Development Framework (2015–2025) and the shared aspirations of national universities across Pacific Island countries. Our region, defined by vast oceans, dispersed communities, and unique challenges, demands an education system that reaches every learner, from Nuku’alofa to the remote outer islands. ODFL is more than a delivery method; it is a promise to ensure no one is left behind, regardless of location, circumstance, or status.”
Encouraging participants to co-create the policy, the Vice Chancellor added, “Your insights will shape TNU’s ODFL policy, laying the foundation for an education system that is inclusive, accessible, and transformative—one that serves every learner, community, and generation in Tonga and beyond.”
The workshop featured interactive sessions that resulted in the drafting and validation of policy statements across 12 priority areas.
A defining feature of the workshop was the emphasis on integrating Tongan values into the curriculum, with substantial contributions from the Faculty of Education, Arts and Humanities. The ICT policy component was led by the School of Information Technology and the Faculty of Business, Public Administration, and Accounting, resulting in proposals such as the creation of a TNU Network and strategies to enhance digital infrastructure, capacity building, and support for learners and staff.
To support the implementation of the ODFL policy, participants proposed the establishment of a Centre for Open, Distance and Flexible Learning, envisioned as the central unit to drive strategy, coordination, and quality assurance.
Reflecting on the swift policy approval by TNU’s Council, Professor Jane-Frances Agbu, Advisor: Higher Education at COL, affirmed, “TNU’s Council has taken a visionary step that affirms institutional readiness and national leadership in inclusive, flexible learning. With this policy in place, the foundation is set for long-term impact, and COL is proud to continue supporting TNU on this journey of transformation.”
#COL4D #TongaNationalUniversity #ODFLPolicy #OpenDistanceLearning #FlexibleEducation #InclusiveLearning #TongaEducation #ClimateResilientEducation #CommonwealthOfLearning #HigherEdPolicy #AccessForAll
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