Members of the learning and diplomatic communities gathered for an evening event at Canada House in London, UK on 12 March 2019 to mark the occasion of the upcoming ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum (PCF9).

PCF9 is organised by COL with The Open University (OU) to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland at BT Murrayfield Stadium from 9 to 12 September 2019.

Welcoming remarks were made by host Ms Sarah Fountain Smith, Deputy High Commissioner for Canada to the United Kingdom and by Professor Asha Kanwar, COL’s President and CEO, and Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, Chancellor of the OU.

The theme for PCF9, ‘Innovations for Quality Education and Lifelong Learning,’ was salient throughout the evening.

“If education is to contribute to sustainable development, we need to look beyond targets and indicators,” said Professor Kanwar. “The focus must be on transformative learning which leads to the 3 Es; Economic growth, Equity, and Environmental conservation. At PCF9, COL will share some of its innovations and how these are making a difference.”

Registration for PCF9 is now open, and abstracts and proposals are being accepted until 15 April 2019.

PHOTO: From left to right, COL President and CEO Professor Asha Kanwar, Chancellor of The Open University Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada Ms Sarah Fountain Smith

Photo credit: The Open University