Excellence in Distance Education Awards (EDEA)

The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is seeking submissions for its 2009-2010 Excellence in Distance Education Awards. These awards, which will be presented at the Sixth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Kochi, India, in November 2010, recognise excellence in four categories: the overall institutional level, the development of learning materials, a lifetime's work as an educator, and student accomplishment. (The fourth category is an honorary fellows award for which nominees are not solicited from the public.)

Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement

COL will present up to three awards for institutional excellence. The awards recognise significant institutional achievements in the innovative and effective application of learning technologies and open and distance learning (ODL) methodologies to reach students who might otherwise not have participated in the learning or training experience.

Submissions are invited from publicly funded or not-for-profit organisations and institutions in the Commonwealth that offer courses through ODL. They will be judged on the following criteria:

• Significant institutional achievement, quality of courses and programmes offered;
• Effectiveness of course materials and learner support system;
• Effective use of appropriate technology;
• Outreach to remote, rural, and marginalised communities; and
• Relevance of programmes to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Education for All (EFA), and Commonwealth objectives (peace, democracy, equality, and good governance). 

Award of Excellence for Distance Education Materials

There are two categories of awards for recognition of excellence in distance education materials produced by publicly funded or not-for-profit institutions/organisations in Commonwealth countries:

• Category A: materials in print, audio, or video, or a combination of these.
• Category B: interactive, electronically delivered materials, which may be supplemented by materials developed in other media.

COL will present up to three awards in each category. The materials may be in any language used in the Commonwealth; however, an English version of the material should be available for evaluation. The materials for Category A should be primarily print, audio, or video (or a combination), while the materials for Category B should be digital, interactive, and delivered through CDs or a website.

Award for Distance Learning Experience in a Degree-Granting Programme

This award was developed to provide a forum for the expression of student experience in learning through distance education. Submissions are invited that describe a notable distance education learning experience. Eligibility is limited to citizens of Commonwealth countries. Submissions may be made by a) educational institutions that deliver programmes directly to students, b) programme administrator/tutor, or c) students themselves. 

Award for an eLearning Experience in Difficult Circumstances

This award for an eLearning experience under difficult circumstances is designed to provide a forum for the acknowledgement of eLearning experience of learners from international organisations who have completed the COL-developed and -delivered workplace eLearning courses. Submissions will describe how undertaking the course has enabled learners to overcome training constraints normally present when working in areas of conflict, natural disasters, pandemics, etc., and/or from belonging to a highly mobile workforce.

In recognition of the winning submission, the learner will be provided with:

• a return air-ticket (most economical fare) to the Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning in Kochi; and
• the Forum registration fee, accommodation, and meals.