LTERC SEMINAR SERIES PRESENTS

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) for Development

Presenter: Professor Asha Singh Kanwar (Vice President, Commonwealth of Learning)

DATE: Tuesday 2nd March 2010
TIME: 1pm - 3pm
VENUE: Harvard Lecture Theatre (32/1.28) - Rockhampton
RSVP: Monday 1 March 2010 (lterc@cqu.edu.au)

Resources

View the Powerpoint Slides

Abstract

In the year 2000 the international community agreed on two set of development objectives: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Dakar Goals of Education for All (EFA). In creating a framework for its own work the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) adds the Commonwealth ideals of Peace, Democracy, Good Governance and the Rule of Law.

In which ways has COL harnessed the potential of ODL to support the achievement of these goals? In this decade the main focus has been on the goal of achieving Universal Primary Education (MDG 2). Many African countries have launched major initiatives to introduce free primary education. But what happens when students graduate from elementary school? Can existing schools absorb the large numbers? COL believes that open schools can be a major part of the answer and this is a high priority for us in our Three-Year Plan for 2009-2012. Open schooling can address the challenges of increased demand by reaching out to diverse groups of learners with quality secondary education that offer both academic as well as technical and vocational options.

The second challenge is to achieve universal primary education in all countries. This requires many more teachers. Existing teacher training institutions do not have the capacity to address these shortfalls, so it is critical to expand the use of ODL to teacher training.

But ODL for development is not only, perhaps not mainly, about strengthening formal education. Of the 1.1 billion people living on less than $1 a day, 75% live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food and income. 80% of the farm work is done by women. ODL can contribute to poverty reduction (MDG 1) by the development of skills training packages for poor communities. COL has developed an initiative to promote Lifelong Learning for Farmers (L3F) .The initiative links universities, research institutes, ICT kiosks and banks with rural communities in India, Sri Lanka and Kenya supporting farmers to learn and earn.

One of COL's most consistent activities has been its capacity-building work in mass media known as COL Media Empowerment (COLME). COL worked with the Nova Scotia Gambia Association (NSGA) to reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS (MDG 6) and educate people about how to prevent transmission of the disease through interactive village cinema events. The harnessing of video media enabled NSGA to extend its reach dramatically. The precise numbers are not certain, but are probably over 100,000. The impact of COL's intervention was described by the new director as "incredible". She said it is not just the numbers reached, but the fascination of the cinema events to people in remote villages.

Over the 20 years of its existence, COL has expanded the scope of its activities within the formal education sector by moving from higher education to teacher development and open schooling. COL's motto ‘Learning for Development' expresses a vision that takes us beyond formal education into non-formal modes of learning that have given a new connotation to what we mean by ODL. Increasingly, Member States are beginning to see the value of ODL for development.

Speaker Bio

Professor Asha Singh Kanwar became Vice President of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) on 1 April 2006 and assumed additional responsibility as Programme Director in April 2007. She is specifically responsible for stakeholder engagement and programme direction.

Before joining COL, Professor Kanwar was a consultant in open and distance learning at UNESCO's Regional Office for Education in Africa (BREDA) in Dakar, Senegal.

Professor Kanwar's engagement with distance education began when she joined Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) where she served as Professor, Director of the School of Humanities and Pro-Vice Chancellor. Professor Kanwar has over 30 years of experience in teaching, research and administration.

A recipient of several awards and fellowships, Professor Kanwar brings with her the experience of having studied and worked in different contexts, both developing and developed. She received her undergraduate, master's and MPhil degrees from the Panjab University in India and a DPhil from the University of Sussex. She was also a Fulbright Fellow for post-doctoral research at Iowa State University, where she was later invited to teach. Prof Kanwar received the ICDE Prize of Excellence in 2009.

Date of Presentation

2 March, 2010