The Commonwealth of Learning (COL), in collaboration with the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD), convened a high-level regional consultative meeting on 24–25 March 2025 in Honiara, bringing together senior education officials, policymakers and institutional leaders from 11 Commonwealth countries in the Pacific. Hosted at the Solomon Islands National University (SINU), the event marked a significant step in shaping a shared Pacific vision for micro-credentials and credit transfer, with the broader aim of advancing inclusive, flexible and quality learning opportunities across the region.
Through five consultative meetings, COL aims to develop the Commonwealth Credit Transfer Framework for Micro-Credentials: Micro-credentials in a Digital Age.
In his welcome remarks, Professor Peter Scott, President and CEO of COL, explained that the Pacific is leading the way in seeing micro-credentials as enhancing global education access and lifelong learning. He noted that “These powerful small things: micro-credentials, can allow learners to access skill learning in very new, flexible ways. He further stated that “charting a path together for a common framework here in the Pacific, will help all our world to more effectively drive learning quality up; drive learning cost down; and increase equity of learning access, not just in these islands, but also for the wider world”.
The Honourable Tozen Leokana, Minister of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) in the Solomon Islands, delivered the official opening remarks at the start of the two-day regional meeting. Minister Leokana emphasised the importance of developing effective credit transfer models that can be adapted and scaled across the Pacific region. He also stressed the need for a policy framework that ensures consistent recognition of qualifications and the role of technology-driven solutions in enhancing access to education, particularly for learners in remote areas. He reiterated the need to acknowledge the existing challenges encountered, including the need to align diverse national qualification systems to ensure seamless credit transfer, address institutional hesitation in accepting non-traditional learning credentials, and bridge technology and infrastructure gaps that hinder equitable access to digital learning resources. He added, “This is an opportunity to collaboratively address these barriers and develop a more harmonised Pacific strategy for the credit transfer framework and micro-credential recognition.”
Speaking at the official opening of the regional meeting, SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau welcomed all participants and thanked COL for hosting the workshop in the Solomon Islands. He said, “We are fortunate to be guided by the work of the Commonwealth of Learning, which has conducted in-depth reviews of the literature, tools, and practices in micro-credentialing across the Commonwealth.” He added, “Education is no longer a one-time event – it is a lifelong journey. And micro-credentials are the signposts along that journey.”
Dr Franco Rodie, the Permanent Secretary of MEHRD in the Solomon Islands, and Robert Okinda, COL’s Adviser for Skills, were also present at the event.
Other regional consultative meetings are planned for the Caribbean, Southern and West Africa, and Asia later in 2025.
