PACFOLD

Pacific Center for Flexible and

Open Learning for Development

University of the South Pacific and Commonwealth of Learning, 2017.

Any part of this document may be reproduced without permission, but with attribution to the University of the

South Pacific, Commonwealth of Learning and the author.

CC-BY-SA (share alike with attribution) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0

If you have any queries about this presentation, please contact:

Matai Tagicaki

Project Officer

PACFOLD

University of the South Pacific

Statham Campus

Laucala, Suva

FIJI.

Email: tagicaki_m@usp.ac.fj

What is Pacific Center for Flexile and Open Learning for Development (PACFOLD)?

• PACFOLD is a virtual Centre hosted by The

University of the South Pacific (USP) in

partnership with Commonwealth of Learning

(COL).

• Establishing the Pacific Center for Open and

Flexible Learning.

Strategic Statement

Our Vision

A Centre which empowers Pacific communities through lifelong learning to

live Free and worthwhile lives.

Our Mission

To be a capacity building network of networks to facilitate flexible and open

learning for sustainable development in the Pacific through advocacy,

communication, innovation, and research.

Our Values

• Sustainability – ensure all activities meet national and local priorities and

will continue without external funding.

• Empowerment – build capacity and empower people to change their own

lives.

• Innovation – use technology in new ways to achieve development aims.

• Flexibility – promote flexibility to remove barriers to learning.

• Inclusiveness – ensure all citizens have a voice

Our Role

• Act as an advocate and emerge as a champion for FOL4D in the region.

• Establish/promote viable models of FOL4D in the region.

• Facilitate the success of FOL4D initiatives, including COL efforts,

through cooperation in capacity building and policy.

• Development & advocacy and networking.

• Research effective practice in FOL4D and share evidence.

• Support institutions and organizations interested in FOL4D.

• Strengthening the use of FOL4D.

Key Priority AreasPRIORITY AREA 1:

Advocacy for Flexible and Open Learning for Development In the Pacific.

PRIORITY AREA 2:

Building capacity in the Pacific for Flexible and Open Learning for

Development.

PRIORITY AREA 3:

Regional and national policy on Open, Distance & Flexible Learning.

PRIORITY AREA 4:

Research in Flexible and Open Learning for Development

Theory of Change

Relevant and appropriate skills and knowledge are critical for Pacific

Community citizens as economic participants to underpin economic growth

and sustainable development.

Community leaders and governance need to recognize and acknowledge

changes credited to the integration of ICT in all sectors of our community.

The region needs to pursue a flexible and open approach in education that is

affordable and accessible to all so the Pacific can manage change, thus the

need to collaborate on strategically designed documents that will underpin

positive social and economic change.

Regional Collaboration on ODFL

Framework

PACFOLD regional collaboration task 1 is the establishment of a regional

Policy on ODFL. The development has been endorsed by PHES – Sub-

committee and has been made as an agenda for FEDMM.

The purpose of the framework is to standardize ODFL policy amongst Pacific

nations, encourage national policy development and provide globally

recognised legitimacy on ODFL program implementations and practices.

This is an important development we intend to persistently pursue this year.

development.

HR Capacity Building

PACFOLD recognizes that need to transform, simplify and streamline engagement

with national stakeholders.

The need to understand respective Governments commitments to the development

of national ODFL through their respective Ministry of Education Strategic

Documents, and work very closely with them in developing ODFL as maybe

reflected in their National Development and Strategic Plans. Capacity building in

ODFL4D for teachers and trainers must also be given priority.

PACFOLD looks at Capacity building in ODFL skills as an immediate area for

development in the Pacific. Addressing this need, USP working in partnership with

COL, have offered Flexible Skills Development course through COL Moodle

platform.

The course was designed for teachers and managers from TVET

institutions and Ministries from South Pacific countries who were

nominated to learn about introducing flexible approaches into

programme design and delivery.

In its first offering last year (2016), a total of 82 individuals

registered for the course with the following gender and group

representations, respectively: Males (52), Females (30); Teachers

(39) - 29 M and 10 F, Managers (43) – 23 M and 20 F. We are

looking to offer the same course, free of charge, this year to

include workplace training for industries by way of invitation.

Research

There has been quiet a number of research done in the recent past on

ODFL and its practices in the Pacific. Recently the COL Knowledge

Management team shared with PACFOLD a repository of papers presented

in PCF5 (https://wikieducator.org/PCF5/Cross-Cutting_Themes). The

information is still relevant today because of the slow development in ODFL

within the Pacific Region.

Priority area 4 addresses an area that will support sustainability and will

ensure the continuity of developing flexible and open learning for our

Pacific community.

Planned Outcomes

Strengthened Pacific region partnership in learning for sustainable development through

ODFL capacity building and policy implementation. The outcomes we are seeking:

-Developed ODFL Regional Framework

-Developed ODFL Regional Quality Assurance Framework – a framework for National Policy

on ODFL and a National template framework

-Expansion of PACFOLD Learn – online platform that discusses Pacific and global issues

relating to flexible and open learning for development.

-Build capacity of practitioners on ODFL in the Pacific – online courses.

-Increase participation in Pacific based research into case studies and stories – Issues

discussed within the community may encourage researches.

-A platform for excellence – Excellence through quality ODFL QA framework

PACFOLD Virtual Center

PACFOLD learn

www.pacfoldlearn.org

As a young regional body, we are confident

that our strategic objectives will be achieved

given time and support for a cause that is

relevant and important for all Pacific

Community.

THANK

YOU