New Delhi, April 24, 2019: With the support of Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) Govt. of India, Commonwealth of Learning (COL) collaborated with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to organise a two-day roundtable of Vice Chancellors of Open Universities in Asia and Africa from 23 to 24 April 2019 in New Delhi, India. Nineteen Vice Chancellors from eight countries including Bangladesh, Botswana, India, Malaysia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tanzania were in attendance.
In her keynote address, Professor Asha Kanwar, COL President and CEO, flagged the issues concerning open and distance learning (ODL) institutions in the 21st century and suggested some possible solutions for staying relevant to digital learners. Professor Kanwar also highlighted COL’s activities across the Commonwealth in helping institutions develop policies and practices to make the best use of the latest technology for teaching and learning for sustainable development. She emphasised the need to improve learners’ cognitive skills, soft skills and industrial skills to address the issue of employability.