14 August 2019, Burnaby, BC, Canada – The ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) will feature renowned speakers, a compelling four-day programme, and unparalleled networking opportunities.
Approximately 570 participants from 60 countries have registered to attend PCF9, organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and co-hosted with The Open University, from 9 to 12 September at BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland. A total of 17 government ministers from Commonwealth Member States are expected at the event.
Attendees will have access to a diverse schedule of activities, including keynote addresses, panel discussions, poster and paper presentations and an interactive “Market Exchange” for one-to-one conversations.
The Asa Briggs Lecture, a hallmark of every PCF, will be delivered by British film producer, educator, environmentalist and member of the House of Lords, Lord Puttnam of Queensgate, C.B.E.
Keynote and special addresses will be presented by His Excellency Danny Faure, President of the Republic of Seychelles; Sarah Brown, founder of children’s charity Theirworld and Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education; Rose Luckin, Professor of Learner Centred Design, UCL Knowledge Lab; Sugata Mitra, former Professor and Principal Research Investigator, School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Newcastle University; and Marc Prensky, Founder and Executive Director, The Global Future Education Foundation and Institute.
Jane Constance, UNESCO Artist for Peace and winner of French television competition The Voice Kids, is scheduled to perform at the welcome reception on the forum’s opening night. For the latest speaker list and more information on the daily programme, please visit pcf9.org/programme.html.
The PCF9 event app will be available for download starting 27 August 2019 and will provide access to important information before and during the forum. Registrants will be able to view programme and speaker details, travel information, and a list of fellow attendees. They will also be able to participate in live polling, access the latest news and more.
Conference delegates who are interested in making the most of their time in Edinburgh are invited to register for three available excursions: a tour of BT Murrayfield Stadium, a day trip to the Scottish Highlands, or a walking tour of Edinburgh. The deadline for tour reservations is 16 August 2019. For more details, visit pcf9.org/visa—tours.html.
Have more questions? You can submit your queries to the PCF9 chatbot on the PCF9 website or email info@pcf9.org. Registered delegates will also continue to receive regular updates via email.
About COL
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) was created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to promote the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. Hosted by the Government of Canada, COL is the world’s only intergovernmental organisation solely concerned with the promotion and development of distance education and open learning.
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