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About the Commonwealth of Learning (COL)- Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA)
Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) is an intergovernmental organisation that assists governments and institutions to expand the scale, efficiency, and quality of learning through online, open, distance and technology-enhanced methods by using traditional and modern technologies . Established by Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada and the Government of India (GOI), COL-CEMCA works in eight Commonwealth countries in Asia – Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.
What We Do
CEMCA supports formal education from secondary to tertiary levels across Commonwealth Asia in three areas: Higher Education, Open Schooling & Teacher Education.
CEMCA supports formal, non-formal and informal education and training to equip learners for livelihoods through its Skills for Work initiative.
Community media serves as a powerful tool to amplify grassroots voices, foster local engagement, and catalyse social transformation.
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In response to the needs expressed by the Commonwealth countries of the Asian region for a more effective use of educational media resources for Distance Education, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) established the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre.. www.col.org
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COL CEMCA
📢 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗥𝗕𝗠 𝗮𝘁 𝗕𝗔𝗢𝗨
The Commonwealth of Learning – Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), in collaboration with Dr. Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar Open University (BAOU), conducted a Faculty Development Programme on Result-Based Management (RBM), Curriculum Review, and Enhancement under the Graduate Employability Project.
The workshops marked a significant step in the next phase of strengthening institutional capacity across Open Universities in India, with a strong focus on embedding outcome-driven and employability-oriented education.
Detailing the major and emerging industries and the job roles in various sectors in the state of Gujarat, Dr B. Shadrach, Director COL-CEMCA, discussed how BAOU can equip learners in high-tech shifts and compliment its role from being a content provider to a skills integrator.
Prof. Jane-Frances Agbu, Adviser: Higher Education at COL, outlined the structured, multi-phase approach of the Graduate Employability Project, noting that RBM plays a critical role in tracking learner journeys from enrolment to employment.
The programme equipped faculty members with tools to design skill-based, industry-aligned courses, reinforcing the role of open universities in preparing learners for the future of work.
Read More: cemca.org/news/baou-advances-employability-agenda-through-rbm-focused-faculty-development-programme/
#colcemca #BAOU #GraduateEmployability #rbm #highereducation #skills #FutureOfWork
📻 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
On 10 April 2026, the Commonwealth of Learning – Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), in collaboration with Reliance Foundation, convened a capacity-building programme in New Delhi, bringing together community radio stakeholders to explore how digital and AI-enabled solutions can strengthen the future of Community Radio Stations (CRS) in India.
🔑The Reliance Foundation team showcased a range of practical, scalable tools aimed at strengthening community radio operations, including:
• Content Management Repositories for organised storage and easy retrieval
• Internet Radio Platforms to expand reach beyond terrestrial limits
• IVRS-based Feedback Systems for capturing listener voices
• LMS-based Training Modules for continuous capacity building
• GIS-enabled Planning to support community mapping and service delivery
A key focus throughout remained on ensuring that technology complements, rather than replaces—the human and community-centric ethos of radio.
In his address, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director COL-CEMCA, emphasised the importance of adopting a balanced, hybrid approach to AI—leveraging its efficiencies while preserving human judgement, cultural relevance, and community ownership in broadcasting.
💡 The response from participants was positive, with CRS representatives appreciating access to affordable and adaptable tools for storage, broadcasting, training, and feedback systems. The COL-CEMCA–Reliance Foundation partnership emerged as a key enabler in supporting innovation, capacity building, and long-term sustainability of community radio in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Read More: cemca.org/news/empowering-community-radio-through-digital-innovation-col-cemca-and-reliance-found…
#communityradio #DigitalTransformation #AIForGood #capacitybuilding #CEMCA #RelianceFoundation #MediaForDevelopment #innovation
🚀 𝗖𝗢𝗟-𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗖𝗔 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗜
The India Student Community for AI, an initiative under the GPAI Student Project launched during the India AI Impact Summit 2026, convened its Student Working Session titled “𝗩𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜” on 11 April 2026 in New Delhi.
The session was organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) through its regional centre, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), brought together student members to collectively define the community’s identity, align individual motivations, and translate these into structured pathways for action.
💡 Structured around a 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧–𝗪𝗛𝗬–𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸, the session enabled participants to move from shared understanding to individual intent—and ultimately to collaborative action.
🤝 Students worked in groups to identify and develop action plans across six key thematic areas:
• Community governance
• Digital infrastructure
• Student-led projects
• Knowledge products
• International collaboration
• Capacity building
In his opening remarks, Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA underscored the importance of student ownership, highlighting that the future direction of the community must be shaped by the voices and leadership of its members.
Global perspectives were enriched by Dr. Aurélie Simard, Ph.D. (INRIA, France) and Dr. Yuko Harayama (NICT, Japan), who commended the students for their clarity, professionalism, and shared ambition- while reinforcing the value of international collaboration among youth.
✨ This working session marks a significant step towards building a student-led platform contributing to the global discourse on responsible AI, grounded in sustained engagement, collaboration, and real-world impact.
Read More: cemca.org/news/col-cemca-hosts-working-session-to-strengthen-india-student-community-for-ai/
#COL #CEMCA #Inria #NICT #CEIMIA #GPAI #ResponsibleAI #StudentCommunity #HigherEducation #AIforGood
🚀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝟭𝟮-𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆
In a decisive move, representatives from 15 Open Universities (OUs) across India have committed to a 12-month action plan to embed employability at the core of distance education.
This commitment emerged from a high-level two-day workshop (26–27 March 2026) organised by the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) — transforming faculty members into 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 (𝗚𝗘) 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.
🔑 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
✔️ Embedding employability modules directly into academic programmes.
✔️ GE Champions will cascade training across campus-based HEIs and faculty networks at state level.
✔️ Continuous Skills Gap Analysis will ensure course alignment with evolving industry needs
✔️ Adoption of new M&E frameworks will measure success by student employment rates rather degrees.
💬 As highlighted by Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA:
"Universities must move beyond traditional credentialing. Employability should become a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)."
🌱 The roadmap places strong emphasis on:
• Micro-credentials & flexible learning pathways
• Industry-relevant, real-time skills
• A sustained mentorship model for Lead Trainers
This marks a decisive step towards positioning Open Universities as regional engines of workforce development and lifelong learning.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲: cemca.org/news/open-universities-pledge-12-month-roadmap-to-revolutionise-graduate-employability/
#GraduateEmployability #OpenUniversities #BlendedLearning #NEP2020 #SkillsDevelopment #HigherEducation #LifelongLearning #COL #CEMCA #FutureOfWork
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The India Student Community for AI convened in New Delhi for its Working Session, organised by @COL4D @CEMCA_COL, enabling students to define priorities, action plans, and global collaboration pathways.
Read more: https://tinyurl.com/ydvwhfwa
#CEMCA #COL #GPAI #AIforGood
Big ideas on the future of Open, Distance, Digital and Blended Learning (ODDBL) took centre stage at the University of Delhi’s international conference recently. From AI and quality assurance to regulation and employability, global experts, including COL’s Dr Tony Mays, Director:
🚀 OUs in India commit to a 12-month roadmap to embed #GraduateEmployability at the core of distance education!
Led by @COL4D @CEMCA_COL, faculty are now #GEChampions driving skills, micro-credentials & industry-aligned learning.
🔗 Read more:
