Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)

Bridging education and employment: The Graduate Employability (GE) project launched in India Focusing on strengthening graduate employability within higher education, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)—a regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL)—recently partnered with Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University (MPBOU) to convene a pivotal workshop in Bhopal, India. By bringing together academic leaders and practitioners, this workshop aimed to ensure that future graduates acquire the necessary skills aligned with the demands of a rapidly evolving job market. Guided by experts from COL and CEMCA, the workshop marked an advance in bridging the gap between academic learning and industry needs. This approach aligns closely with the employability priorities outlined in the Ahmedabad Declaration – adopted by all 16 open universities (OUs) in India – reaffirming a collective resolve to produce graduates who are more readily prepared for meaningful employment. Participants from these OUs were oriented on the integration and implementation process for higher education. Shri Inder Singh Parmar, Honourable Minister of Higher Education and Technical Education, State Government of Madhya Pradesh, in his remarks as the Chief Guest on the concluding day of the workshop, commended the project as the need of the hour. Follow the link for more insights: https://lnkd.in/ggDufhsn #OpenUniversities #GraduateEmployability #education #employability #skills #jobmarket #graduates #academia #learners

Supporting ODL and teacher professional development in Antigua and Barbuda The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is supporting the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Creative Industries (MOESC) in #Antigua and #Barbuda in developing a national open and distance learning (#ODL) policy and a professional development governance framework for #teachers. This initiative aims to enhance #teachertraining beyond the initial preparation provided by the Department of Teacher Education at Antigua State College. Towards these goals, the Ministry recently hosted a four-day national workshop in St. John’s, with over 40 stakeholders in attendance. Participants included education and curriculum support officers, master and senior teachers, teacher educators, and representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers. The principals of Barbuda’s primary and secondary #schools were also in attendance, ensuring representation from all parts of the twin-island state. Visit the link for details: https://lnkd.in/gEXundSx

"Successfully Certified by CIET-NCERT after completing the course on 'Artificial Intelligence in Education'! 🎉😊🎓 #AIinEducation #NCERT

Empowering Visually Impaired Learners in Solomon Islands: Graduation Marks a Milestone in Inclusive Education In a significant step towards fostering #inclusivity and independence, thirty blind and visually impaired individuals graduated earlier this month from the “Taep fo Laef” and literacy programmes in #Honiara, #SolomonIslands. The training programmes, led by the Blind and Vision Impaired Persons Support Initiative (BVIPSI) with support from Commonwealth of Learning (COL), focused on equipping #visuallyimpairedpersons with essential skills for greater independence, #employability, and #inclusion in society. The graduation ceremony, held in the week of the United Nations International Day of #PersonswithDisabilities, celebrated the achievements of the participants in the presence of distinguished guests, including Dr Franco Rodie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD). The cohort of 200 individuals with disabilities benefited from this initiative, with the graduating group marking a significant advance in their personal and professional journeys. Follow the link for more insights: https://lnkd.in/g-tA22xJ

Caribbean Workshop Validates Blended Learning Courseware for Key Economic Sectors The validation of #blendedlearning #courseware aligned with regional occupational standards was a key outcome of a regional workshop convened by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the Caribbean Association for National Training Authorities (CANTA), and the National Training Agency of Trinidad and Tobago. Held in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, from 2-6 December 2024, the workshop brought together over 20 practitioners from Barbados, Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & The Grenadines, and the host country to advance #TVET innovation in the region. This activity is part of a strategic partnership between COL and CANTA aimed at building resilience in TVET systems and strengthening #skills development across the #Caribbean to enhance #employability and support decent work opportunities. The workshop focused on integrating blended learning approaches into the Guidelines and Criteria for Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) and updating occupational standards to meet contemporary demands of workplace as well as blended learning. These efforts are designed to foster a competitive regional workforce and support the seamless mobility of certified skilled workers within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) single #market and #economy. Follow the link for more insights: https://lnkd.in/g5kkT9Uj

MMTTC, Tezpur University, Assam, India, Organises Short-Term Course on Online Course Development Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the regional centre of Commonwealth of Learning, addressed educators as the Special Guest at the inauguration of a Short-Term Course (STC) on Development of Online Course/Programme at Tezpur university in Assam, India. It is being organised by the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Centre (MMTTC) at the University from 16-20 December 2024. The workshop, conducted in blended mode, would focus on building educators’ capacities to create high-quality online courses aligned with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Professor Shambhu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, welcomed the participants, underscoring the growing need for well-designed online courses to meet the demands of millions of learners. “The success of online learning depends on the quality and inclusivity of the courses,” he emphasised. In his address, Dr Shadrach commended MMTTC’s efforts to enhance teacher development and outlined strategies for creating engaging and effective online courses. Highlighting challenges such as low completion rates on Government of India’s MOOC platforms, like SWAYAM, he stressed the importance of interactivity, storytelling, and case studies in course design to hold the attention of online learners. He also encouraged the adoption of the four-quadrant approach, which integrates multi-media instructional content, supported by supplementary learning materials including case studies, interactive discussion forums, and assessment tools to enhance learner engagement. Follow the link for more insights: https://lnkd.in/gxjVyFp5  #OnlineEducation #OnlineCourses #BlendedLearning #OpenEducationalResources #OER

Faculty Induction Programme Concluded with Insightful Valedictory Session at Avinashilingam University The Faculty Induction Programme (FIP) at Avinashilingam University, Tamil Nadu, India, concluded with a thought-provoking valedictory address delivered by Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) on 9 December 2024. His address emphasised the evolving role of #educators in a rapidly changing academic and technological landscape. Dr Shadrach commenced his address by referring to the various collaborations between CEMCA and Avinashilingam University, especially the one on Open Educational Resources (OER) repository, leveraging #DSpace, an open-source platform. In his address, he emphasised the immense potential of Indian education under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He remarked, "The future of the world is in your hands. In the next two decades, every fourth degree will be issued in India. This global positioning opens doors for Indian students to become leaders, aided by their teachers in honing essential leadership skills."   He urged educators to embrace #Lifelonglearning, particularly in mastering emerging technologies like #artificialintelligence. “AI will not replace teachers, but teachers proficient in AI will replace those who are not,” he noted, encouraging participants to exploit technology for educational excellence.   For more insights, follow the link: https://lnkd.in/gv_kCCWB

✨ Thrilled to Share My Achievement! ✨ I’m happy to share that I’ve obtained a new certification: Artificial intelligence from the National Council of Educational Research and Training ( NCERT )! . . I’m excited to announce that I have successfully completed the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education course offered by CIET-NCERT, New Delhi! This enriching 5-hour program helped deepen my understanding of how AI can revolutionize education and empower teaching and learning experiences. A big thank you to Diksha Technologies, CIET-NCERT, and Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) for offering this incredible opportunity to learn and grow. This accomplishment reflects my commitment to staying updated with emerging technologies in education and contributing to their application for meaningful learning outcomes. Looking forward to applying these insights to create impactful changes in the education sector! . . National Council Of Educational Research And TrainingÊ(Ncert) Regional Institute of Education ( a constituent unit of NCERT, New Delhi), Bhubaneswar, India. Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) Indian Institute of Governance and Leadership & Shastri Institute of Governance and Leadership Diksha Technologies MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Ministry of Education, Government of India, New Delhi #ArtificialIntelligence #EducationTechnology #LifelongLearning #AIinEducation #AI #ML

IIGF 2024 Panel Discussion on “Enabling AI for All, by All” Explores Inclusive AI Solutions for India Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the regional centre of Commonwealth of Learning in Asia, participated as a panellist in the India Internet Governance Forum (IIGF) 2024’s Session on “Enabling AI for All, by All” held on 9 December 2024 in New Delhi, India. He advocated for the integration of open education systems and AI to empower marginalised communities. He highlighted how AI literacy driven initiatives could enable the excluded in using this technology for their benefit. In particular, Dr Shadrach mentioned COL-CEMCA's AI literacy initiatives for schoolteachers, farmers, and factory workers. He informed that COL-CEMCA is piloting an innovative AI literacy programme for 10,000 farmers in collaboration with Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University. The MP Bhoj Open University has also shown keen interest in translating the course into Hindi with the help of Bhashini, and scaling it up among farmers in the Hindi-speaking belt. Dr Shadrach called for a national AI literacy mission to promote awareness and adoption of AI technologies while ensuring that they align with the needs of excluded communities.  For more insights, follow the link: https://lnkd.in/gPQG8spJ #AI #AIForAll #InclusiveAI

Harnessing AI for Agriculture's Green Transition and Climate Resilience: Insights from GPAI Summit 2024 Session Dr Basheerhamad Shadrach, Director of the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), the Asian regional centre of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), participated in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) Summit 2024 held in Belgrade, Serbia, on 3–4 December 2024. On 4 December, he delivered the keynote address and participated in a panel discussion on “AI in Agriculture Green Transition and Climate: Transforming Practices for the Future.” The panel explored the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing agriculture's green transition and tackling climate challenges. Discussions focused on how AI-driven solutions can enhance sustainability, optimise resource use, and minimise the environmental footprint of agricultural practices. Key innovations highlighted included AI applications that strengthen climate resilience and reshape the future of agriculture. In his address, Dr Shadrach underscored that the climate crisis is exacerbated by unmet NetZero commitments, especially regarding Scope 3 emissions reporting, and an over-reliance on private sector initiatives with limited engagement from the public and farmers. He emphasised AI’s potential to address these issues by improving air pollution management through predictive and air quality modelling, supporting sustainable agriculture through optimised land use, and reducing emissions from livestock and crop production. He also noted AI’s capacity to boost food security by increasing yields, cutting waste, and fostering regenerative systems. Additionally, he highlighted AI’s role in efficient water resource management and solid waste reduction, key to promoting sustainable farming and environmental preservation. The panel included other distinguished speakers such as Chetan Aggarwal, Public Policy Consultant and Visiting Fellow at the Center of Policy Research and Governance (CPRG), India; Clara Neppel, Senior Director at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Europe; Oskar Marko, Assistant Director of the BioSense Institute; and Vladimir Crnojevic, Director of the BioSense Institute and a member of the UN 10-Member Group. https://lnkd.in/g7erSsdi #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Agriculture #ClimateChange #ClimateResilience