Meet and Greet: COL's Peter Scott Engages with Indian Education Leaders

New Delhi, 11 November 2025

Professor Peter Scott, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), initiated his pan-India visit with a ‘Meet and Greet’ session at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. He engaged with ambassadors, government officials, vice chancellors, and stakeholders to discuss future education plans, understand the government's expectations, and explore collaboration opportunities to advance education and skills.

Professor Peter Scott highlighted COL's initiatives, including strengthening open schooling, teacher education, vocational education, higher education, farmers’ education and technology-enhanced learning. He also shared innovation projects leveraging AI, digitalisation, and new business models to boost employability and education. Dr B. Shadrach, Director, COL-CEMCA, highlighted CEMCA’s key programmes such as Faculty Development Programme (FDP), Teacher in the Loop AI (TiLAI) and strengthening open education and skills training.

The discussion, led by Professor Ami Upadhyay, Vice Chancellor of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar State Open University, focused on knowledge exchange and sharing experiences with other countries. Key discussions include:

·       Vocational Training: Equipping students with skills for self-employment or entrepreneurship, especially in rural areas.

·       Skill Training: Focus on creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving for students pursuing higher education.

·       Teacher Training: Address the shortage of good teachers and leverage technology to enhance education.

·       Inclusive Frameworks: Develop standardised frameworks for education, considering diverse needs and contexts.

The meeting was attended by important dignitaries and stakeholders, including H.E. Mahishini Colonne, Sri Lanka High Commission; Professor Dr Nirmaljeet Singh Kalsi IAS (retd); Professor Uma Kanjilal,  Vice-Chancellor of IGNOU;  Professor Akhilesh Mishra, Chairman, NIOS;   Professor Dr Mahesh Verma, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU); Dr Biswajit Saha Director, Training & Skill Education, CBSE; Professor Madhu Parhar, Ex-Director CEMCA, among others.

Professor Peter Scott stressed the importance of sustained collaboration, outlining a way forward that involves forging stronger partnerships, harnessing technology, and developing frameworks to drive large-scale impact.