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Commonwealth young leaders call for stronger voice in democratic institutions
17 August 2026 | Commonwealth Secreatriat
In a virtual dialogue on 2026 International Youth Day, young leaders from five Commonwealth regions said resilient institutions should move beyond simply listening to young people and give them genuine influence over the decisions that shape their lives. More than 50 young people joined a virtual dialogue convened by the Commonwealth Youth Programme on 12 August to mark International Youth Day.
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20 August 2026 | Press Information Bureau, India
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the way technology is designed and used. But the real challenge is no longer simply developing intelligent algorithms — it is building reliable, affordable and scalable systems that can work in the real world and reach the people who need them most. At the Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (IIT Jodhpur), the Software Innovation Lab is addressing this challenge by combining artificial intelligence, software architecture, edge computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop technology solutions for healthcare, education, public safety and infrastructure.
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26 August 2026 | Daily News, Sri Lanka
The Government approved a proposal to adopt a Strategic Framework for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector covering 2026–2035, positioning it as the country’s national strategic guideline for building a skilled labour force, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr Nalinda Jayatissa said yesterday. Speaking at the weekly Cabinet press briefing yesterday, he said, “Technical and vocational education has been identified as a key pillar under the Government’s national policy framework." However, he noted that although many state-run TVET institutions currently operate across the country, a persistent mismatch between training programme content and actual labour market requirements has created several challenges within the sector.
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29 July 2026 | NITI Aayog, India
India’s ambition of Viksit Bharat 2047 depends on enabling citizens to learn, earn, and advance continuously. Skilling is central to this goal. Since 2014-15, over 7.67 crore individuals have been trained. To sustain this momentum, the Union Budget for FY 2025-26 allocated ₹34,000 crore in skilling-related expenditure across multiple central ministries.
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UBD explores the future of higher education at AI Ready ASEAN National Convening
10 August 2026 | Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) contributed to national dialogue on artificial intelligence readiness through a keynote address by Hajah Maudena Haji Abd Hamid, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (University Life and Governance), at the AI Ready ASEAN Brunei Darussalam National Policy Convening. The convening, themed “Strengthening AI Readiness Across Sectors: From Awareness to Action,” served as a national platform for dialogue on strengthening AI readiness in Brunei Darussalam.
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Experts seek urgent review of quality assurance mechanisms for ODL
19 August 2026 | The Guardian, Nigeria
Experts in open and distance learning (ODL) have called for an urgent review and strengthening of quality assurance mechanisms to keep pace with rapid technological and educational changes, particularly the growing adoption of artificial intelligence, micro-credentials, open educational resources and cross-border learning. The academics made the call on Wednesday in Abuja at a regional workshop on “Quality Assurance Mechanisms for Emerging Issues in Open and Distance Learning”, organised by the Regional Training and Research Institute for Distance and Open Learning (RETRIDOL) and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).
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21 August 2026 | Durban University of Technology, South Africa
Durban University of Technology (DUT) Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE), Professor Fulufhelo Nemavhola, has called on universities to move beyond simply adopting artificial intelligence, urging higher education institutions to rethink how technology can be used to build more capable, inclusive and sustainable universities. Professor Nemavhola made the call while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Global Smart Education Conference, held in Beijing, China, from 18 to 20 August 2026.
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More health workers, stronger systems: Africa’s new ambitious goal
26 August 2026 | UN News
Adopted during the 76th session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, the Health Workforce Management Programme in Africa (2026–2035) aims to transform health-sector labour markets. The ministers approved a 10-year programme to train, employ and retain three million additional health workers in a major push to bolster health systems across the continent.
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13 August 2026 | Demerara Waves, Guyana
Improving mathematics performance and strengthening pathways for skills development emerged as priorities in Georgetown at the 52nd Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD)-Education, the Ministry of Education said Thursday. Guyana’s Minister of Education Sonia Parag also officially assumed the chairmanship of the regional body. The meeting was hosted at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on 12 and 13 August under the theme, “Educating for Life, Purpose, and Caribbean Progress”.
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26 August 2026 | Jamaica Information Service
The Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information is moving to strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in high schools, including pursuing legislative changes to enable greater involvement by the HEART/NSTA Trust in the secondary-school system. Portfolio Minister, Senator Dr the Hon Dana Morris Dixon, said she wants a greater number of students to leave high school with recognised skills certification in addition to their academic qualifications.
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Jamaica's digital future begins in the classroom
17 August 2026 | UNICEF
Jamaica has entered the final year of implementation of the Government of Jamaica and United Nations SDG Joint Programme on Digital Transformation for Education, a flagship initiative supported through the Joint SDG Fund and the contributions of development partners, including the European Union and its member states. This is a pivotal moment for Jamaica's efforts to accelerate progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Since its launch, the Programme has helped pilot innovative solutions, strengthen collaboration and lay the foundation for long-term transformation across the education sector.
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Education Department launches Integrated ICT Policy in Education
31 July 2026 | PNG Bulletin
As part of digital transformation in Papua New Guinea’s education system, the Department of Education has launched the Integrated Information Communication Technology (ICT) Policy in Education 2025-2029 at the Port Moresby National School of Excellence on Thursday (30/07/26). The policy is the department’s strategic framework for integrating Information and Communication Technology across the national education system.
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Request for Expressions of Interest to co-host the Twelfth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning
28 August 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning
Commonwealth of Learning (COL) convenes the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF) every three years in partnership with a co-hosting institution, consortium or ministry in a Commonwealth country. PCF is COL’s flagship international forum for advancing policy and practice in open, distance, flexible and technology-enabled learning. It brings together ministers and senior government officials from Commonwealth countries; leaders of universities and other educational institutions; public agencies; researchers; practitioners; development partners; civil-society organisations; and other stakeholders committed to expanding equitable access to quality education and training.
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Reimagining school leadership in Seychelles: Leading change in a complex
educational landscape
28 August 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning
Delivering the keynote address at the University of Seychelles’ recent Headteachers’ Retreat, held under the theme Reimagining School Leadership in Seychelles Today, His Excellency Danny Faure, Chair of the Commonwealth of Learning Board of Governors and former President of the Republic of Seychelles, reflected on what it means to make education relevant in a rapidly changing world. He highlights that relevance is not about lowering standards, but about equipping learners to think critically, solve problems, use technology responsibly and make informed decisions about their futures.
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The Commonwealth Micro-credential Implementation and Quality Assurance Guide: A System-Level Guide to Micro-credential Quality Assurance and Implementation
July 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning
A companion to the Commonwealth Micro-credential Framework for Lifelong Learning (2025), this guide provides practical guidance for governments, regulators and other system-level actors working to strengthen quality assurance, approval and recognition. It also offers best practice for increased collaboration between education providers and industry.
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WiSE: COL’s new initiative championing women’s progress in STEM
25 August 2026 | Commonwealth of Learning
Around the world, women make up only 35 per cent of STEM graduates and hold only about a quarter of jobs in science, engineering, and ICT. Even where education enrolment may suggest gender parity, inequitable hiring practices, workplace cultures, career progression pathways, and care responsibilities continue to narrow opportunities for women. In this context, greater access to STEM education for women has not translated into equal opportunity in employment, career advancement or leadership.
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