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The OU and Commonwealth of Learning launch Pan-Commonwealth Forum 9

The OU and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) will come together to co-host the international Pan-Commonwealth Forum (known as PCF9) in Edinburgh, Scotland between 9 -12 September.

This partnership comes in a special year, as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary here at The Open University and COL celebrate their 30th. This year’s Forum theme is ‘Innovations for Quality Education and Lifelong Learning’ and will see over 500 thought leaders, practitioners and policy makers come together at the world’s leading international conference on education and technology-enabled learning.

The Canadian High Commission in London held a reception at Canada House on 12 March 2019 to launch the upcoming ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF9), jointly organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and The Open University (OU).

Guests included the Commonwealth Secretary-General, senior government officials, representatives from the higher education and international development communities, and business leaders.

Welcoming remarks were made by the host Ms Sarah Fountain Smith, Deputy High Commissioner, and by COL President and CEO Professor Asha Kanwar, and the OU Chancellor Martha Lane Fox.

'A forum of critical importance'

COL President and CEO, Professor Asha Kanwar said: "PCF provides a platform for people from developing countries and a diversity of stakeholders who cover the whole spectrum of development. The OU is a model and inspiration, a symbol of quality and innovation; we are proud to partner with them for this forum."

Baroness Scotland said: "The PCF is of critical importance to pool our knowledge of distance lifelong learning, to learn from each other and share ideas, the forum will allow us to do that."

The call for papers is now live until 15 April if you would like to submit your idea and work for consideration. You can also find further information at https://pcf9.org/

From left to right, COL President and CEO Professor Asha Kanwar, Chancellor of The Open University Baroness Lane-Fox, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland and Deputy High Commissioner of Canada Ms Sarah Fountain Smith