COL is continuing its tradition of recognising and honouring excellence in distance education through awards to be presented during the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF6). The Forum will take place in Kochi, Kerala, India from 24-28 November 2010.


Since its inception as part of COL's tenth anniversary celebrations, the programme has honoured 39 individuals and 22 institutions. These awards are highly prized by the winners, and the conferment ceremony has become a high point of the Pan-Commonwealth Forums on Open Learning.


All those engaged in open and distance learning are encouraged to submit nominations for the awards and to attend the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning. The Forum is being jointly organised by COL in partnership with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).


PCF6 will explore how open and distance learning can help to achieve the international development goals and education for all. The conference theme is "Access and Success in Learning: Global Development Perspectives", with a focus on four key areas:

• Social Justice
• Community Development
• Skills Development
• Formal Education

By honouring excellence in distance education, COL gives due recognition to remarkable achievements and endeavours to benefit those who seek to emulate examples of good practice in the field. The COL Excellence in Distance Education Awards (EDEA) acknowledge that excellence is being achieved at many points in the learning process: at the institutional level, in the development of learning materials, and in terms of individual educator and student attainment.