Pan-Commonwealth Forum
9-12 September 2019
Edinburgh, Scotland
The Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF9) on Open Learning was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom at the historic BT Murrayfield Stadium from 9 – 12 September 2019. The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) partnered with The Open University to co-host the Forum and celebrate the 30 and 50 years of their respective commitment to quality education and lifelong learning. The Forum brought together 541 policy makers, practitioners and thought leaders from 61 countries.
Latest News
The Edinburgh Statement is now finalised but we need to deliver it. Throughout the year we will be highlighting actions that we have taken to ensure quality education and lifelong learning for all throughout the Commonwealth on the PCF9 website and through Commonwealth of Learning and Open University communications. We will also use the statement to check in on our collective progress at forthcoming commonwealth education events. Please send us updates on the actions that you have taken to PCF9@col.org.
October 2019: The Edinburgh Statement
Sept. 2019: Closing Video
Sept. 2019: Mobile app for delegates available
Aug. 2019: Full conference programme is available
Aug. 2019: Key speakers and programme announced
The ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) will feature renowned speakers, a compelling four-day programme, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Continue reading...
Welcome to the ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland at the historic BT Murrayfield Stadium from 9 – 12 September 2019. In keeping with tradition, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) has partnered with The Open University to co-host the Forum and celebrate the 30 and 50 years of our respective commitment to quality education and lifelong learning.
Our combined experience and capabilities must focus not on our past, but critically on the future of education and learning. Already the ambitious plan of action agreed in September 2015 to transform the world for people, planet and prosperity underpinned by the 17 sustainable development goals, is many years behind target. We know that millions of young people are missing out on a quality education to give them a fair start in life and that many millions more lack the opportunities they need to develop skills throughout their lives to respond to the rapidly changing needs of work and our societies. We believe that open education has a much greater role to play in meeting this challenge and that is why we have chosen to focus this Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning on the theme of innovations for quality education and lifelong learning.
We will need to approach this challenge with a mind-set that bridges the traditional divide between borders, sectors, academia and industry. PCF9 welcomes participation from friends old and new from the open education and Commonwealth communities and beyond. Now is the time to deepen our partnerships to ensure that we can provide employability skills to young people, a quality education to all regardless of circumstances, and to find practical ways for technology to speed up our progress. We look forward to welcoming you to PCF9 and to working together to address this challenge.
August 2019: Welcome message
Professor Asha Kanwar
President & CEO
Commonwealth of Learning
Professor Mary Kellett
Vice-Chancellor
The Open University
Innovations for Quality
Education and Lifelong Learning
Sub-Themes
We aim to discuss, debate and showcase how innovations are improving the quality of education and creating new spaces for lifelong learning.
Employability
Increasing the employable skills of learners to prepare them for the work life in the 21st Century.
Equity and Inclusion
Innovative programmes and structures for improving equity and inclusiveness in education, considering quality assurance frameworks, accreditations, certification, benchmarking and rankings for equity and inclusion.
Opening up Education
Exploring ways of improving access for example eLearning, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC), public-private partnerships, considering use of Open Educational Resources, and Open Educational Practices.
Technology
Focusing on technological innovations for delivering and managing large as well as small flexible learning opportunities that are based on principles of quality and create new ways to promote lifelong learning.
Special Focus: Education for Girls
PCF9 will have a special focus on Women and Girls giving increased opportunity for their participation, and focus on research and presentation related to innovation in offering programmes leading to skills and employability of girls to improve their livelihoods.
Special Focus: Empowering Youth
PCF9 will have a special focus on youth to increase their participation as well as research and presentations that will have impact on the future of empowering youth.
The history of the Pan-Commonwealth Forum
COL convened its first Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF) in Brunei Darussalam in 1999. Since then, PCFs have been organised in South Africa, New Zealand, Jamaica, United Kingdom, India, Nigeria and Malaysia.
