The Fifth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning

PCF5 is an international conference to explore the contribution of open and distance learning to international development goals, by opening up access to learning at every level. The Forum is for practitioners, researchers, planners and policy makers in the fields of open and distance learning and development. It provides opportunities to share experience and expertise, and to contribute to future policy and provision. Participants will represent the main Commonwealth, European and international institutions and agencies who are active in the field, including funding bodies and technology providers.
Background to the event

The Commonwealth of Learning 's Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning has grown to become the leading international conference on learning and development. It is held biennially in collaboration with the Federation of Commonwealth Open and Distance Learning Associations. It is co-hosted with partners in different regions of the Commonwealth, and PCF5 brings the Forum to Europe for the first time.

The Forum seeks to address open and distance learning through widening educational access, bridging the digital divide and by advancing the social and economic development of communities and nations at large. The Forum's focus is on topics relating to, and participation by, societies in developing countries. COL 's Excellence in Distance Education Awards are also presented at the Forum.

The First Pan-Commonwealth Forum was held in March 1999 in Brunei Darussalam. The Second forum followed in 2002 in Durban, South Africa. The Third Pan-Commonwealth Forum was held 4-8 July 2004 in Dunedin, New Zealand, and PCF4 was held in Ocho Rios, Jamaica from 30 October - 3 November 2006