The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the Commonwealth of Learning’s (COL) regional centre, in partnership with Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), convened a meeting with Vice Chancellors from 12 state open universities (OUs) in India to review open and distance learning (ODL) and the National Online Programmes Regulation, 2020. The primary objective of the meeting was to share recommendations with the University Grants Commission on creating a more forward-looking ODL system for the country.
During the opening remarks, Dr B. Shadrach, Director of CEMCA, emphasised COL and CEMCA’s commitment to supporting the OUs in developing employment-oriented courses to enhance graduate employability. Dr Shadrach announced a new project to support better alignment of open university programmes with labour market demands. He emphasised the importance of integrating skilling and flexible learning approaches, including micro-credentials and blended learning strategies.
Discussions underscored the essential role of OUs in delivering accessible, high-quality education, particularly for underserved populations and the urgent need for innovative, employment-oriented curricula to address youth unemployment in India. Vice Chancellors explored the challenges faced by OUs in maintaining quality while competing with traditional institutions and advocated for a supportive regulatory framework for ODL. Quality assurance emerged as a critical theme where quality standards are essential for maintaining the integrity of the educational system.
Other areas, such as financial sustainability, resource management, and the importance of technology and digital infrastructure in enhancing learning experiences, were also discussed.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to adapt and innovate within the educational framework to effectively address industry demands and regulatory challenges and a call for collaboration among institutions to develop programmes that meet national needs.