The Commonwealth of Learning (COL), through its Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC), invites stakeholders to the fourth webinar of the ‘VUSSC Voices’ series. Scheduled for Wednesday, 19 March 2025, this session focuses on ‘Strengthening Mathematics Education: Lessons from the Eastern Caribbean,’ presented by Dr Lois George of The University of the West Indies.

With a focus on Advancing Caribbean Teachers (ACT) in Mathematics she will discuss the foundational work being done with the Ministries of Education in St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This includes in-service teachers, curriculum officers, mathematics coaches, and student teachers to advance their knowledge and skills for teaching mathematics through technology-enabled and gender-responsive approaches. The approach seeks to cultivate a community of practice whereby teachers utilise culturally and communicatively relevant methods with learners to enhance their mathematical skills and competencies.

The presentation will address lessons of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their transferability across other SIDS of the Commonwealth and elsewhere.  The aim is to inspire transformation within mathematics teaching and learning through culturally relevant and innovative pedagogies for accessibility and meaningful engagement, especially for learners in online and distance learning environments.

VUSSC is committed to expanding tertiary education in the Commonwealth member countries through distance modes and enabling small states to be active participants in online learning to bridge digital divides. It also seeks to heighten awareness around persons with disabilities (PWD) and build the capacity of tertiary systems to be responsive to their needs.

To this end, VUSSC works with Ministries and their agencies, post-secondary institutions, professional bodies and NGOs to implement a range of activities to address common areas of concern. VUSSC projects focus on:

• improving institutional and national effectiveness to deliver quality online and blended learning in the small states.
• increasing equitable and inclusive access to quality learning for PWDs and those who support them; and
• expanding access to competency-based courses in skill areas relevant to small

Successfully addressing shared interests and common concerns through collaboration requires opportunities for engagement, interaction, and sharing of ideas and experiences, hence the need for “VUSSC Voices” webinars to be held bi-monthly.

Date & Time: Wednesday, 19 March 2025 at 09:00 hrs PDT/Vancouver (Time Zone converter)

Chair: Dr Schontal Moore, COL Adviser: VUSSC

Presenter: Dr Lois George, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics Education at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus: “Strengthening Mathematics Education:  Lessons from the Eastern Caribbean”

Webinar Objectives:

• To expand and strengthen alliances among VUSSC stakeholders.
• To facilitate sharing experiences, explore responses to common challenges, provide guidance, and promote knowledge sharing and collaboration across Commonwealth countries.
• To discuss the challenges small Commonwealth countries face in accessing high-quality post-secondary education.
• To highlight how VUSSC addresses these challenges through collaborative development and distance learning.

To register, visit: https://bit.ly/41i5ZVJ

Download the brochure for more information: https://www.col.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/COL_VUSSC_VOICES_4.pdf