GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Asma Ismail has been selected as a recipient of an honorary fellowship from the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).
Asma would be joining the list of recipients, the first of which was conferred the award for the 1998-1999 term.
The award is to honour individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the growth and development of technology-mediated learning in their country and internationally and/or to the advancement of education in the Commonwealth.
In a letter from COL president and chief executive officer Professor Asha S. Kanwar, it was stated that the award was conferred to Asma in recognition for her outstanding contribution in the advancement of education in Malaysia, when she served as the director-general in the Ministry of Education and subsequently as the vice-chancellor of USM.
It also mentioned that Asma’s contribution in promoting access to quality higher education, especially for women, has been a great inspiration to many around the Commonwealth.
Asma will be conferred the award at the ongoing Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Held in partnership with the Open University, United Kingdom, the theme for PCF9 this year is “Innovations for Quality Education and Lifelong Learning”.
COL is an intergovernmental organisation established by the Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1988.
Based in Canada, COL works closely with Commonwealth governments, local institutions and agencies in forming mutually beneficial linkages in the spirit of equality and participation.
It was set up to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources and technologies.
Among its key international partners are Unesco, WHO, World Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat.