{"id":6023,"date":"2020-11-13T21:13:10","date_gmt":"2020-11-13T21:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/udemygrafikdev.wpengine.com\/?post_type=customers&p=6023"},"modified":"2025-12-03T21:32:53","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T21:32:53","slug":"commonwealth-of-learning","status":"publish","type":"customers","link":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/case-studies\/commonwealth-of-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"How Commonwealth of Learning Enriches Lives in Impoverished Countries"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How Commonwealth of Learning Enriches Lives in Impoverished Countries<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Commonwealth of Learning<\/a> (COL) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes open, flexible, and technology-enabled learning. Created by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1987, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) helps Member States and institutions harness the potential of distance learning and technologies to expand access to education and training and address the education challenges of today. For COL, learning is the key to sustainable development and must lead to opportunities for economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, COL Advisor for Skills Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach<\/a> and his team needed to transition learning partners and local NGO in those countries and empower its citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenge: Close the educational opportunity gap in Southeast Asia and Africa<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Technical, vocational, educational, and training (TVET) institutions in Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Bangladesh offer locals an opportunity to earn professional certifications or qualifications. Unfortunately, access to TVETs in these countries is limited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For every 100 people who apply for a TVET education, only five are admitted,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach. \u201cWithout any formal education or training, those who are left out get on with their life and make some kind of livelihood. They end up as apprentices, informal workers, and semi-skilled laborers. And many end up trapped in poverty.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Shadrach and his team at COL wanted to make those hopes and dreams of a better life become reality. “We have the mandate to help governments and institutions scale,” he says. \u201cBut there\u2019s only so much they can do on their own.” TVET institutions lack the infrastructure and resources needed to accept more applicants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, according to Dr. Shadrach, these limitations could be overcome by switching from face-to-face to online training. With that in mind, they looked for a learning platform that would expand educational opportunities to those in need and empower them to control their destiny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solution: A platform and a partner to change 6,000 lives<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Shadrach and his team evaluated national and international learning platforms. They hoped to find a solution that would serve a wide range of learners, allowing them to choose relevant subjects and learn at their own pace. “It was important to find a flexible online learning platform to help learners develop skills on demand,” says Dr. Shadrach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Commonwealth of Learning<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"templates\/full-width.php","resource_type":[7],"class_list":["post-6023","customers","type-customers","status-publish","hentry","resource_type-case-study","post","without-featured-image"],"acf":{"customer_description":"Commonwealth of Learning is an intergovernmental organization that promotes open, flexible, and technology- enabled learning. Created by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1987, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) helps Member States and institutions harness the potential of distance learning and technologies to expand access to education and training and address the education challenges of today.","case_study_pdf":"https:\/\/info.udemy.com\/rs\/273-CKQ-053\/images\/UFB_Case_Study_Commonwealth_of_Learning_20201110.pdf","key_results":false,"archive_thumbnail":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/commonwealth-of-learning-resource-thumbnail-596x348-1.png.webp","customer_logo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/col-logo-crest-colour.png","customer_quote":true,"quote_image":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/col-dr-basheerhamad-shadrach.png.webp","quote_text":"Many online learning providers offer self-paced learning. But Udemy\u2019s course selection stood out to us. They had something directly applicable and appealing to all of our learners.","quote_name":"Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach","quote_title":"COL Advisor for Skills","has_video":false,"choose_resource_hubs":["default"],"publish_to_selected_resource_hubs":["yes"],"resource_topics":["integrated_learning","on_demand_learning","technical_upskilling"],"company_logo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/107_Commonwealth_of_Learning_color_logo_3C98Bx.png.webp","show_customer_spotlight":false,"main_heading":"How Commonwealth of Learning Enriches Lives in Impoverished Countries","case_study_details_paragraph":"

Commonwealth of Learning (COL) is an intergovernmental organization that promotes open, flexible, and technology-enabled learning. Created by Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1987, the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) helps Member States and institutions harness the potential of distance learning and technologies to expand access to education and training and address the education challenges of today. For COL, learning is the key to sustainable development and must lead to opportunities for economic growth, social inclusion and environmental conservation.<\/p>\n","industry_details_group":{"include_industry_details":true,"industry_details":"Education"},"company_hq_details_group":{"include_company_hq_details":true,"company_hq_details":"Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada"},"number_of_employees_details_group":{"include_number_of_employees_details":false,"number_of_employees_details":""},"office_locations_details_group":{"include_office_locations_details":false,"office_locations_details":""},"statistics_repeater":[{"number_or_icon":"number","statistic_number":"6K","statistic_icon":false,"statistic_text":"Citizens access better employment opportunities"},{"number_or_icon":"number","statistic_number":"84%","statistic_icon":false,"statistic_text":"Adoption rate"}],"tabs_group":{"include_challenge_tab":true,"challenge_tab_include_quote":true,"challenge_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"It was important to find a flexible online learning platform to help learners develop skills on demand.","tab_quote_author_name":"Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach","tab_quote_author_title":"COL Advisor for Skills","tab_quote_author_photo":"https:\/\/business.udemy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/col-dr-basheerhamad-shadrach.png.webp"},"challenge_tab_heading":"Close the educational opportunity gap in Southeast Asia and Africa","challenge_tab_text":"

In 2019, COL Advisor for Skills Dr. Basheerhamad Shadrach and his team needed to transition learning partners and local NGO in those countries and empower its citizens.<\/p>\n

Technical, vocational, educational, and training (TVET) institutions in Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Bangladesh offer locals an opportunity to earn professional certifications or qualifications. Unfortunately, access to TVETs in these countries is limited.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor every 100 people who apply for a TVET education, only five are admitted,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach. \u201cWithout any formal education or training, those who are left out get on with their life and make some kind of livelihood. They end up as apprentices, informal workers, and semi-skilled laborers. And many end up trapped in poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Shadrach and his team at COL wanted to make those hopes and dreams of a better life become reality. \u201cWe have the mandate to help governments and institutions scale,\u201d he says. \u201cBut there\u2019s only so much they can do on their own.\u201d TVET institutions lack the infrastructure and resources needed to accept more applicants.<\/p>\n

But, according to Dr. Shadrach, these limitations could be overcome by switching from face-to-face to online training. With that in mind, they looked for a learning platform that would expand educational opportunities to those in need and empower them to control their destiny.<\/p>\n","include_solution_tab":true,"solution_tab_include_quote":false,"solution_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"","tab_quote_author_name":"","tab_quote_author_title":"","tab_quote_author_photo":false},"solution_tab_heading":"A platform and a partner to change 6,000 lives","solution_tab_text":"

Dr. Shadrach and his team evaluated national and international learning platforms. They hoped to find a solution that would serve a wide range of learners, allowing them to choose relevant subjects and learn at their own pace. \u201cIt was important to find a flexible online learning platform to help learners develop skills on demand,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach.<\/p>\n

It was equally important that learners achieve their outcomes. \u201cSome learners want to get better jobs or promotions,\u201d he says. \u201cOthers want to learn how to start their own business.\u201d<\/p>\n

Motivate and enable first-time learners<\/strong><\/p>\n

Many of the learners in COL programs are new to online learning and need motivation to complete courses. With Udemy\u2019s approach to skills development through self-paced learning, COL was able to deliver.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany online learning providers offer self-paced learning,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach. \u201cBut Udemy\u2019s course selection stood out to us. They had something directly applicable and appealing to all of our learners.\u201d<\/p>\n

Six months after adopting Udemy Business, Dr. Shadrach is confident they made the right decision. \u201cToday we have around 5,090 active learners,\u201d he says. \u201cThey get a sense of progress and accomplishment from small, manageable lectures.\u201d<\/p>\n

Offer courses to match local needs and interests <\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to offering more variety on-demand, Udemy Business directly helped TVET institutions reach a wider audience online.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to help instructors from Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Bangladesh to create courses that are relevant to the local audiences,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach.<\/p>\n

Thanks to Udemy, TVET institutions don\u2019t have to struggle with technology, learning management systems, and other infrastructure issues. Instead, they can focus on what they\u2019re passionate about \u2014 instruction, pedagogy, and delivery of courses.<\/p>\n

According to Dr. Shadrach, these partnerships will help COL extend their reach from nearly 6,000 learners to 600,000.<\/p>\n

Help mothers reenter the workforce <\/strong><\/p>\n

Women in Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, and Bangladesh face different challenges than men. When they become pregnant, expecting mothers need to leave their jobs and often struggle with returning to the workforce.<\/p>\n

Nahid Sultana, a 34-year-old mother and software developer in Bangladesh, was one of these women. \u201cI lost my income after becoming a mother,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd with limited free time, it was difficult to keep my skills relevant for my job sector.\u201d<\/p>\n

In early 2020, Sultana came across a social media post about an e-learning scholarship through a COL partner institution. \u201cAfter taking the courses I needed and obtaining certifications, I had the skills and confidence I needed to reach out to my old employer and also to apply for new job opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Shadrach says that roughly 40% of COL learners are women. Many of them, like Nahid Sultana, have been given a lifeline through the partnership with Udemy Business.<\/p>\n","include_results_tab":true,"results_tab_include_quote":false,"results_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"","tab_quote_author_name":"","tab_quote_author_title":"","tab_quote_author_photo":false},"results_tab_heading":"Quantifying the impact","results_tab_text":"

In the middle of December 2019, Dr. Shadrach and his team set goals for the number of active users (6,000) and a target adoption rate (80%). But while the number of active numbers is still growing towards their objective, the adoption rate has far exceeded any of their expectations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe originally thought an 80% adoption rate \u2014 at the very least \u2014 would be a great outcome. But now we\u2019re at 84%.\u201d says Dr. Shadrach. \u201cWhen we speak to our partners they are looking at 95% as their adoption rate. They\u2019re more ambitious than us. But we\u2019ll support them nonetheless.\u201d<\/p>\n

COL began surveying learners to measure the impact of the program. Did it make a difference in finding employment, getting promotions, or starting a new business? What they learn will inform their next move.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a new relationship with Commonwealth of Learning and Udemy \u2014 one we want to be replicated through more investment,\u201d says Dr. Shadrach. \u201cNow is the time for us to communicate success and demonstrate how it\u2019s impacted the lives and labor options for people compared to six months ago.\u201d<\/p>\n","include_looking_forward_tab":false,"looking_forward_tab_include_quote":false,"looking_forward_tab_quote_group":{"tab_quote_text":"","tab_quote_author_name":"","tab_quote_author_title":"","tab_quote_author_photo":false},"looking_forward_tab_heading":"","looking_forward_tab_text":""},"main_page_quote_group":{"main_page_quote_text":"Many online learning providers offer self-paced learning. But Udemy\u2019s course selection stood out to us. 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