We are living through a period of heightened global uncertainty. From climate and food insecurity to global health challenges and democratic instability, chronic inequities are deepening, widening access gaps to quality education.
As the only intergovernmental organisation solely dedicated to expanding education through distance learning and Technology-Enabled Learning, COL recognises the importance of approaching digitalisation and technological innovation both ethically and strategically to design learning solutions that deliver impact.
When it comes to leveraging Generative AI, collaborating with our Commonwealth partners is vital to our ability to deliver agile solutions that work across varying social, economic and cultural contexts. While many organisations are rushing to invest in costly AI solutions, COL prioritises the needs of its partners, co-creating cost-efficient pathways that directly address the realities of diverse learners and local contexts, especially for those in resource-constrained settings.
COL recently welcomed Dr Kennedy Ameyaw Baah, Principal of Wesley College of Education (WESCO) in Ghana to COL’s headquarters in Vancouver. WESCO is a key partner institution under COL’s Teacher-in-the-Loop AI (TiL AI) initiative in Ghana. This multi-country, multidisciplinary project empowers teachers across education and skills sectors to effectively integrate AI into their teaching practice.
During his courtesy visit, Dr Baah was received by Anne-Marie Scott, Vice President, alongside COL team members engaged in the TiL AI project. The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on progress, share institutional experiences, and explore pathways for deepening collaboration.
“I would like to express our profound gratitude to COL for its continued support and partnership. Your commitment to advancing open, distance, and technology-enabled learning across the Commonwealth has created transformative opportunities for institutions like ours,” said Dr Baah.
Welcoming the visit, Ms Scott highlighted COL’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that demonstrate practical and scalable innovation in teacher education, particularly where technology must be applied in inclusive and resource-conscious ways.
Discussions focused on the implementation of the Teacher-in-the-Loop AI model at WESCO, with considerations for institutional engagement, capacity development of tutors, and the co-creation of curriculum-aligned educational resources using AI-enabled platforms.
Expanding on his appreciation for WESCO’s ongoing partnership with COL, Dr Baah highlighted some of the initiative’s key outcomes. “To date, twenty-two tutors have received specialised training in AI and over one hundred and ten student teachers have benefited directly from the initiative.”
As technological innovation moves ahead, WESCO plans to keep pace with emerging AI applications in education through the establishment of a Generative AI and Pedagogy Laboratory. The institution also plans to integrate AI and OER development into regular teacher education programmes.
Dr. Baah’s visit signalled WESCO’s strong commitment to further institutionalising the TiL AI model and reaffirmed COL’s shared vision with its partner.
As COL continues to expand its approaches to Generative AI in education, we look forward to working with our partners to leverage AI in ethical, inclusive, and cost-effective ways that empower teachers as co-creators, innovators, and critical agents of change. Collaborative, country-led approaches, such as our partnership with WESCO in Ghana, pave the way for scaling impactful learning models around the Commonwealth.
