OAsis

COL’s Open Access Institutional Repository

Recent Submissions

  • Publication
    Final Evaluation and Management Response of the Partnership for Open, Distance and Flexible Learning (ODFL) in the Pacific
    (2025-10) Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
    The Partnership for Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning in the Pacific (the programme, ODFL) is a five-year initiative designed to enhance the capacity and efficiency of education sectors in the Pacific region by leveraging innovative delivery mechanisms and technology. The programme was targeted across nine Pacific Commonwealth countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The programme consisted of four workstreams, with this Final Evaluation focused on Workstream 2 (Supporting youth employment) and Workstream 3 (Building resilience in Pacific education systems). The immediate response to COVID-19 (Workstream 1) and evaluation activities (Workstream 4) are out of scope for this review. This evaluation provides a summative and formative assessment of the programme’s efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, sustainable development outcomes, gender equality, resilience, and strategic recommendations, drawing on a three-phase process involving desk reviews, primary and in-country data collection (surveys, focus groups, interviews, and workshops), and stakeholder feedback.
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    Keynote Address: Education as Liberation: Some Thoughts on Technology, Resilience and Change in Open Education
    (2025-09-12) Mohamed Martin, Paloma
    Keynote address, delivered by Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, Vice Chancellor of University of Guyana, at the Eleventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF11) in Gaborone, Botswana on 12 September 2025.
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    Keynote Address: Innovating from the Inside: Changing Minds about Digital Education in University Practical Work
    (2025-09-11) Drysdale, Timothy
    Keynote address, delivered by Professor Timothy D. Drysdale, Chair of Technology Enhanced Science Education and Director of Strategic Digital Education, School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, at the Eleventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF11) in Gaborone, Botswana on 11 September 2025.
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    Asa Briggs Lecture: The Changing Landscape of Open and Distance Learning in Africa Through Technology
    (2025-09-10) Bisanda, Elifas Tozo
    Asa Briggs Lecture presented by Professor Elifas Tozo Bisanda, UNESCO Chair and former Vice Chancellor of The Open University of Tanzania, at the Eleventh Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF11), in Gaborone, Botswana on 10 September 2025.
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    Leveraging Virtual Reality in WebQuest Strategies to Foster Inclusive Practices in Educational Technology Professional Development
    (2025-09) Mitwally, Mohamed; Letseka, Moeketsi
    This research explores the efficacy of incorporating Virtual Reality (VR) technology in training programs for Educational Technology Specialists aimed at enhancing their capability in designing WebQuest-based learning environments for Open and Distance Learning (ODL) contexts. The research utilized a quasi-experimental research design in quantifying the advancement of cognitive and skill-based capacities generated through immersive virtual reality training interventions. Data analysis reveals significant improvements in participants' instructional design skills, collaborative abilities, and technological knowledge. The findings demonstrate VR's substantial ability to enhance inclusive educational practices, increase learner engagement, and promote instructional innovation in remote learning environments. This study provides valuable insights into overcoming traditional barriers in educational technology training and offers evidence-based recommendations for the implementation of virtual reality solutions in professional development contexts. The findings align with ongoing initiatives to improve educational technology training, with the goal of creating more inclusive, accessible, and effective learning environments. PCF11 Sub-Theme: Changing Mindsets for Inclusive Open Education Paper ID: 7343