COL partners with UK varsity for distance learning conference

New Delhi : The Commonwealth of Learning (COL), an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government, has forged a partnership with Britain's Open University (OU) for an open, distance and technology-enabled learning conference next year.

OU will co-host the ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF9) in Edinburgh, Scotland from September 9-12, 2019, COL said in a statement on Tuesday.

"This forum will promote innovations to strengthen access to quality education and lifelong learning for all," said Professor Asha Kanwar, President and CEO, COL.

"I am delighted that PCF 9 will be held jointly with The Open University UK, which has been an inspiration to the open and distance learning community around the Commonwealth," she added.

Headquartered in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, COL is the world's only intergovernmental organisation solely concerned with the promotion and development of distance education and open learning.

Held every three years, the PCF attracts over 600 delegates from across the 53 nation members of the Commonwealth and beyond.

COL said it would also present at the conference its "Excellence in Distance Education Awards" to individuals and institutions that have demonstrated remarkable achievements in the promotion of open learning.