The Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) is a network of small countries that work together to develop and share free content for post-secondary, skills-related courses in areas such as tourism, entrepreneurship, disaster management, assistive technologies, use of information and communication technologies, and sustainable agriculture. VUSSC countries have also collaborated to develop degree programmes in Educational Leadership, Business and Entrepreneurship and Youth Work. This course content is non-proprietary and is readily adaptable for use within the specific context of other countries in online, blended and face-to-face modalities.
Sharing Resources
VUSSC encourages the transfer and sharing of learning materials through the use of Creative Commons copyright licences. Our courses are available free to postsecondary educational institutions and agencies.
Participating Countries
Participating countries include 33 small states, which make up two-thirds of the countries in the Commonwealth. Most of these small states support a national university or college with its own courses, faculty and administration. VUSSC works with these national institutions to develop and share course content. By sharing available resources, VUSSC helps to increase the number of courses offered in these smaller countries and enables the transfer of credits and qualified people between countries.
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Africa: Botswana, Eswatini, Gabon, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, Seychelles and The Gambia; Asia: Brunei Darussalam and Maldives; Caribbean: Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St.Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago Europe: Cyprus, Malta Pacific: Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu
Transferring Credit
Credit is transferred through a course and credit sharing mechanism called the Transnational Qualifications Framework. This allows participating countries to adapt VUSSC courses and then offer them in other contexts. The institutions that offer the courses accredit them locally.
Building Capacity
VUSSC also works with participating countries to build capacity and expertise in online facilitation, ODL implementation, designing online assessment, providing learner support and developing policy. As a result, VUSSC increases the human-resource capacity that enables small states of the Commonwealth to participate effectively in global economies and thrive as equal members of the world community.
Training and Support
VUSSC draws on an international team of experts keen to support educators as each educational institution begins to participate. Hands-on training sessions focus on the key points educators need to know to create, deliver and share VUSSC course content. We offer:
- Face-to-face, online and blended training
- Online collaboration
- Online discussion forums
- Resource materials
Expanding Access to Quality Learning Opportunities – Small states can actively contribute to global development and lead educational reform through the innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICT).
Available at: Brochure
