About
5th Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning: ‘Access to Learning for Development’
Having taken place in London from 13 to 17 July 2008, the Fifth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF5) explored how open and distance learning can help achieve international development goals and education for all. The Forum brought together over 700 practitioners, researchers, planners and policymakers from 70 different countries. As an interdisciplinary event, PCF5 offered reflection on access to learning and faciliates a transnational exchange of ideas and expertise.
The Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning is organised biennially by the Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental organisation created by Commonwealth Heads of Government. Run on a not-for-profit basis, the Forum covers learning from school to higher education as well as adult education. In 2008, the Forum was be hosted by the University of London as part of the activities to mark the 150th anniversary of the University's external degree initiative. The specific focus for PCF5 in London was how open and distance learning can help meet international development goals including the Millennium Development Goals and Education for All. There are four key themes:
- Health
- Livelihoods
- Provision for children and young people
- Governance, conflict and social justice
WikiEducator provides a development environment for the Forum: contributors are invited to develop their papers and proposals here, and to contribute to the work of others.