When the Fashion and Design Institute, Mauritius became the Academy for Design and Innovation (ADI) by a bill enacted in 2022, it did so with the distinct knowledge that it would offer online courses for the first time in 2023.

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) supported ADI in making the transition by training 23 staff in online course development and facilitation. As a result of the training, eight courses previously available as face-to-face only, will be offered on the ADI Moodle platform in January 2023, with four more to be rolled out mid-2023. Additionally, beginning 14 November 2022, faculty are building their capacity in online teaching skills as they participate in a six-week course to help them design and manage assessment for online learners.

Director of the ADI, Dr Sabrina Ramsamy Iranah, had this to say about the project,

“The collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning is an exciting opportunity and experience for ADI to advance not only into the local market but also regional and international markets – the next leap for the Academy. The training is helping us to implement technology-enabled learning and build a strong blended learning environment, essential for transforming the creative industry capital of tomorrow.”

Education Specialist for the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth, Dr Mairette Newman, commented,

“COL recognises that training and preparation are key to a positive online teaching-learning experience. The facility to study at times and in locations that suit their personal and professional demands is often the only viable solution for adult students. The rapid growth of online learning coupled with the embodiment of technology in the field of design has made this an important project for an institution like ADI.”

Image courtesy Academy for Design and Innovation, Mauritius