The 4th Vice Chancellors’ Roundtable Meeting, co-organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL)’s regional centre – the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) and Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) – marked a pivotal moment for the advancement of ODL in India and South Asia. Held in Nashik, India, the gathering convened Vice Chancellors from Open Universities across the region to chart collaborative pathways for implementing India’s National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and expanding Graduate Employability through a new consortium of open universities. Participants underscored the meeting’s importance in strengthening ODL’s credibility, improving learner outcomes, and positioning open universities as critical drivers for achieving SDG4.
In his welcome address, Professor Sanjeev Sonawane, VC, YCMOU, highlighted the critical role of ODL in achieving SDG4, with open universities contributing to 11 per cent of the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) in India, over 50 per cent of whom are female learners. He also emphasised the need for skilling and employability, with YCMOU leading valuable initiatives such as developing courses for the prospective workers at Palghat port and grape farming in Italy in collaboration with international partners.
Delivering the valedictory address, Mr Mrutyunjay Behera, Economic Advisor (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education, Government of India. He emphasised the significance of such gatherings in gaining insights into the innovations and technological advancements transforming ODL across the region and underscored the urgent need to dispel the doubts about the quality of education delivered through the ODL system. “The time has come to erase the question mark surrounding the credibility and effectiveness of ODL and to recognise its potential in shaping the future of education,” he asserted.
Dr B. Shadrach, Director, CEMCA, highlighted the importance of the Ahmedabad Declaration, a guiding document for ODL, adopted and endorsed by all OU VCs in August 2023. He also reiterated the need for increased collaboration between academia and industry to bridge the employability gap.
The meeting also saw participation by OU VCs from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who shared their experiences and best practices in ODL. Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal Open University highlighted its inclusive education model, while Bangladesh Open University discussed its blended learning and vocational training efforts. Sri Lanka’s Open University showcased its success in employability through industry partnerships and career advisory services.
The key outcomes of the meeting included the formation of a consortium for open universities aimed at sharing resources and best practices and the creation of an Open Educational Resources (OER) repository to be managed by CEMCA. The consortium will address challenges such as funding, digital infrastructure, and regulatory hurdles while promoting innovation and collaboration among open universities. The meeting concluded with plans for future initiatives, including an AI masterclass for VCs and establishing community radio stations in OUs to enhance learners’ and community outreach.
In all, the 4th Vice Chancellors’ Roundtable Meeting marked a sizable step towards strengthening the ODL ecosystem, focusing on quality, inclusivity and innovation in education.
