The three-day workshop on the “Development of Institutional Graduate Employability Framework in Open Universities of East and North-East States” concluded on 22 March 2025 at Netaji Subhas Open University in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and its regional centre, the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA), in collaboration with NSOU, the event brought together Vice Chancellors, faculty members, and staff from NSOU, Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University (KKHSOU), Assam; Nalanda Open University, Bihar; Jharkhand State Open University, and industry leaders to address the pressing challenges of graduate employability (GE) in the region. 

As the Guest of Honour, Professor (Dr) Rajendra Prasad Das, Vice Chancellor of KKHSOU, highlighted the disconnect between academia and industry in his inaugural address. “Industry leaders often question whether graduates meet their expectations, particularly in soft skills and communication. Open Universities must bridge this skills gap, and strengthen their placement cells,” he noted. He also stressed the need to change the perception that OU graduates are less employable, pointing out that self-motivated learners in OUs are highly aspirational and capable. 

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (COL-CEMCA) continue to lead efforts in promoting Open Educational Resources (OERs) and enhancing teachers’ role in AI-driven education through the Teacher in the Loop AI (TIL-AI) India project.

As part of Open Education Week 2025, COL and CEMCA organised the TIL-AI Open Math Challenge, an initiative designed to empower teachers to leverage their expertise in AI-based OER development. The challenge aimed to ensure that the resources created were not only curriculum-aligned, but also of high quality and pedagogically effective. The competition engaged 95 expert mathematics teachers participating in the TIL-AI project, culminating in the development of over 170 high-quality, curriculum-aligned OERs tailored for Grade 9 mathematics. These innovative resources include engaging videos, insightful documents, impactful presentations, and dynamic interactive learning tools, all designed to enhance the teaching and learning experience.