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USEFUL LINKS
Useful links with organisations and projects related to open and distance learning.
ACU Observatory: The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education
www.obhe.ac.uk/aboutus/
AFFORD
AFFORD, The African Foundation for Development was founded as a registered charity in 1994 by a group of Africans in the UK, in response to concerns, that despite the vast number of Africans in the UK who organize themselves and contribute to Africa's development, Africans were effectively marginalized from mainstream development activity directed towards Africa. There was also a realization that different Africans can and should learn from each other. Its mission is to enhance and expand the capacity of Africans in the diaspora to contribute to Africa 's development.
Africa Educational Trust
The Africa Educational Trust (AET) was founded in 1958 by Reverend Michael Scott (1907-1983), in the support of the anti-apartheid struggle and independence movements in Africa . His belief was that peace and justice were inseparable and he spent his life struggling against injustice wherever he saw it. He had a firm belief that "Education is the key to development of a people". AET works at increasing access to learning and enhancing the lives of thousands of children and young people in Africa , many of whom will never get the chance to go to school and learn to read or write. This is a denial of their human right to a basic education and why the work is so fundamentally important to many communities in war-torn regions of Africa .
www.africaeducationaltrust.org/home.html
American Center for the Study of Distance Education
Penn State 's American Center for the Study of Distance Education (ACSDE) was founded by internationally recognized distance education expert Michael Graham e Moore. Its functions are research, teaching, conferences and acting as a clearinghouse for information and research on developments in distance education.
BOND
www.bond.org.uk/
British Educational Research Association
www.bera.ac.uk/
Canadian Association For Distance Education
CADE is a national association of professionals committed to excellence in the provision of distance education in Canada .
Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an international organisation, set up by Commonwealth governments in 1988, to promote educational cooperation through distance education. Its President, Sir John Daniel , is a member of IRFOL's advisory group.
Department of International Development
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the part of the UK Government that manages Britain 's aid to poor countries and works to get rid of extreme poverty. It is headed by a Cabinet minister, which reflects how important the Government sees reducing poverty around the world. DFID supports long-term programmes to help tackle the underlying causes of poverty. The term 'international development' refers to efforts, by developed and developing countries, to bring people out of poverty and so reduce how much their country relies on overseas aid. Many different things can contribute to development which reduces poverty, such as settling conflicts, increasing trade and improving health and education.
Development Studies Association
www.devstud.org.uk
European Association for Distance Learning
EADL is the European association of schools, institutions and individuals working in correspondence and distance education. With members from over 15 European countries, the Association is a representative forum for the exchange of information and ideas on current practice and developments in this expanding field of education and training.
Fahamu
Fahamu has a vision of the world where people organise to emancipate themselves from all forms of oppression, recognise their social responsibilities, respect each other's differences, and realise their full potential. Fahamu is committed to serving the needs of organisations and social movements that aspire to progressive social change and that promote and protect human rights. They are committed to enabling civil society organisations to use the internet to promote social justice.
Imfundo
The Imfundo Project was developed, as a result of an initiative by the British prime minister. It aims to find ways to use information and communications technology to improve education in developing countries, particularly in Africa . The objectives of the project are to coordinate the efforts of business, governments and NGOs, to learn from best practice and experience, to focus on initiatives that meet the education and development needs of the developing country, to help business to translate its commitment into effective, sustainable and relevant contributions.
www.dfid.gov.uk/research/imfundo.asp
International Centre for Distance Learning
The International Centre for Distance Learning is an information centre, which has been funded by the United Nations University, the Overseas Development Agency (now DFID), and others. It is housed at the British Open University's campus in Milton Keynes .
International Distance Learning Course Finder
The International Distance Learning Course Finder is the world's largest online directory of e-learning courses from 127 countries. This universal distance education resource has information on over 50,000 distance learning courses and programs offered from a multitude of universities, colleges and companies.
International Extension College (closed down June 2006)
The International Extension College (IEC) provided consultancy and training in open and distance learning in developing countries since 1971. Its aim was to provide resources for learning internationally.
National Extension College
The National Extension College (NEC) is an English charity, and has offered open learning courses within Britain since it was founded as a pilot for the Open University in 1963. Its formerDirector, Ros Morpeth , is now an associate of IRFOL.
Open College of the Arts
The Open College of the Arts (OCA) runs art-based courses by distance learning and by face-to-face tuition. OCA tutors are all practising artists, designers or writers and their courses encourage individual creativity, technical expertise and critical awareness. The OCA is affiliated to the Open University and was founded in 1986 also as a result of a proposal by Michael Young.
Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia
The Open and Distance Learning Association of Australia Inc. (ODLAA) is a professional association of members interested in the practice and administration of distance education and open learning. It is a non-profit organisation managed by an Executive Committee of members operating in a voluntary capacity.
Open University
The Open University has led the way in tertiary-level open learning since its foundation in 1969. The Open University in the East of England has close links with IRFOL. The former Regional Director, Roger Mills, is chairman of IRFOL's Board of Trustees. To learn more about distance learning with the Open University see:
Distance Learning Open University
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development www.oecd.org/home
UNESCO
http://portal.unesco.org
UNICEF
www.unicef.org.uk/
University of London
The University of London was the first university to allow students to study at a distance. Today it has over 40,000 distance learners in over 180 countries studying on over 100 different courses including a Masters of Research, a new online course that teaches educational and social research skills. The University also has a Centre for Distance Education that promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing in the area of distance learning.
http://www.londonexternal.ac.uk/about_us/index.shtml
Young Foundation
The Young Foundation is a social research agency, registered as a charity, and with its main office in Bethnal Green London. It has been carrying out social research, especially in education, housing, and community issues, for more than forty years. It has been the launch pad for numerous social innovations of which IRFOL is one. The Institute of Community Studies merged with the Mutual Aid Centre and was re-named The Young Foundation.
The new website is located at the following address: www.youngfoundation.org.uk
World Bank
www.worldbank.org/
