Virtual University for Commonwealth Small States

"The whole point of the VUSSC is to help these countries... to master learning technologies themselves and create their own locally relevant learning materials."

This project envisages the formation of a consortium of institutions -- using appropriate information and communications technology applications -- working together to plan programmes, develop content and ensure delivery of the programmes to learners.

The invitation, sent in mid-December 2004 to education ministers and academic institutions, also requests that the national representatives indicate the results they seek to achieve for their country.  

Sir John Daniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of COL, said: "The whole point of the VUSSC is to help these countries, which have small populations and a narrow economic base, to master learning technologies themselves and create their own locally relevant learning materials. They do not want to be completely dependent on imported course content." 

Commonwealth education ministers conceived the idea of a VUSSC at their meeting in Halifax, Canada, in 2000. The focus of the project is to enable small states to work together to develop courses suited to their specific needs. Sir John stated: "As common aims emerge between groups of states, either for learning content or for using particular technologies, we will be able to help them to reach their goals by facilitating collaboration and providing practical support."  

Based on the response to its invitation, which has a 28 February 2005 deadline, COL hopes to determine the scope and scale of the VUSSC by identifying which states wish to participate and what each seeks to achieve. COL will then list the most widely shared objectives, both regionally and globally. Local institutions in the small states will eventually offer courses and programmes using teaching systems developed through the project. COL hopes to complete this phase by June 2005.

CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service, Issue 215, 22 December 2004

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• Education

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• Commonwealth of Learning (COL)