In August 2001, on recommendation from Sir John Daniel, Assistant Director General (Education) at UNESCO and former Vice-Chancellor of the UK Open University, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) situated in Vancouver, Canada was requested by the Chief Director of Telematic Learning Systems (TLS) of the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education (PUCHE), South Africa, to establish a Panel of international experts in the field of technology-mediated distance and flexible education to undertake a review of the Telematic Learning Programmes offered by the University.