COL-CEMCA Helps BOU to Revolutionise Distance Learning in Bangladesh

In a significant initiative to transform open and distance education in Bangladesh, the Commonwealth of Learning’s regional centre, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), partnered with Bangladesh Open University (BOU) to equip faculty members, technical staff, and electronic media personnel with the skills needed for media and digital production by sharing various techniques in media-enabled teaching and learning using the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The intensive training undertaken from 21-24 April at BOU's Gazipur campus, successfully equipped 48 participants—including 24 faculty members and 24 media and IT professionals—with cutting-edge digital production skills essential for modern education delivery. 

COL-CEMCA Director, Dr. B. Shadrach, described the programme as a landmark event that positions BOU in a new era of electronic media production for live-streaming and broadcasting content through audio-visual methods, including the use of the Bangla Parliament Channel, which is being made available to BOU.

The capacity-building initiative was led by COL-CEMCA consultants, Dr Kumar Dharmendra Prasad and Dr Jatinder Jit Kaur, from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)’s Electronic Media Production Centre.  At the request from COL-CEMCA, Professor Uma Kanjilal, the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU, willingly deputed the team to share their expertise covering the entire digital production lifecycle through hands-on sessions. The participants gained practical knowledge in multimedia content conceptualisation, scriptwriting, budgeting, studio production techniques, and field recording. A special focus was placed on developing content tailored for BOU's regional and sub-regional study centres.

BOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam thanked COL-CEMCA for the technical assistance, emphasising the critical role of digital transformation in education. "In today's rapidly evolving educational landscape, merely having technological infrastructure is not sufficient," he stated. "What we urgently need is a workforce proficient in harnessing these tools to create engaging, high-quality content that reaches every corner of our nation." The Vice-Chancellor highlighted how this training aligns with BOU's strategic vision to enhance the accessibility and quality of distance education across Bangladesh.   

Professor Sayeed Ferdous, BOU's Vice-Chancellor (Administration), urged participants to become "digital ambassadors" within their departments. "The true measure of COL-CEMCA training's success will be visible in how effectively you implement these skills to benefit our students," he remarked.

This collaborative programme between COL-CEMCA, IGNOU, and BOU represents a significant stride in addressing the growing demand for digitally-enabled education in South Asia. As Bangladesh continues to expand its open and distance learning infrastructure, such initiatives ensure that educators remain at the forefront of technological innovation, ultimately benefiting thousands of distance learners across the country.