The Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), in collaboration with Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) of Pakistan, organised a Pre-Conference Webinar titled, Empowering Higher Education Institutions through Blended Learning: A Deep Dive into the Institutional Blended Learning Policy (IBLP). This event, held ahead of the 37th Association of Asian Open Universities (AAOU) Conference 2024, focused on introducing the IBLP template and discussing its importance in achieving SDG 4, which emphasises inclusive and equitable education. The webinar brought together experts and participants from Commonwealth nations, offering insights into how higher education institutions (HEIs) can implement blended learning effectively.

The Webinar began with a welcome by Professor Dr Nasir Mahmood, Vice-Chancellor of AIOU, who stressed the relevance of blended learning as educational institutions face growing challenges in online education. Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, highlighted the significance of blended learning in modern education and the collaborative efforts between COL-CEMCA and AIOU.

The Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU) collaborated with the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), the regional centre of Commonwealth of Learning (COL), to organise a three-day workshop on Blended Learning from 25-27 September 2024 for educators from 14 Open Universities, including KKHSOU, at its campus in Guwahati, Assam, India. The workshop aimed to enhance participants' understanding of the concept, need, and scope of blended learning in open and distance learning.

In a Distinguished Guest Address, Dr B. Shadrach, Director of COL-CEMCA, highlighted the strengthening of open learning practices in India through 17 State Open Universities and IGNOU, supported by COL-CEMCA. He provided an overview of the initiatives in this direction that followed the Ahmedabad Declaration, leading to the current workshop on blended learning. He lauded open universities as pioneers of this pedagogical approach, which is now being adopted by conventional universities. He articulated the three pillars of blended learning as quality curriculum design and delivery, student engagement, and accessible education for marginalised communities.