Professor Peter Scott

Professor Peter Scott is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL).

 His career reflects a deep commitment to open and distance learning, characterised by innovative leadership in various academic and administrative roles. He commenced his career in academia as a researcher and lecturer at the University of Sheffield, UK. His expertise in open learning innovation was further honed during a 20-year tenure at The Open University, UK, where he directed The Knowledge Media Institute, specialising in Artificial Intelligence and Education. In 2015, Professor Scott joined the University of Technology Sydney in Australia as Pro Vice-Chancellor, after which he became the President of Athabasca University, Canada in 2022.

Across all his roles, he has been a pioneering force in educational change, focusing on new modes of learning and teaching, particularly in the digital realm. His work has significantly contributed to the global transformation of education through technology.

Professor Olaf Zawacki-Richter

Olaf Zawacki-Richter is a professor of educational technology at the University of Oldenburg in Germany. He is the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Social Sciences and Director of the Center for Open Education Research (COER). Olaf has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of open, distance, and digital education. He has authored over 200 publications and served as an invited keynote speaker, chair, and reviewer at many international conferences. Together with Professor Insung Jung, he  published the Handbook of Open, Distance, and Digital Education (ODDE) in Springer’s Major Reference Series (open access). Olaf is also Chief Editor of the newly founded open access Journal of Open, Distance, and Digital Education (JODDE). His publications are available on Google Scholar.  

Professor Mpine Makoe

Prof Mpine Makoe is the Executive Dean of the College of Education and an NRF-rated research professor in Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) at the University of South Africa. She holds a PhD and MSc in Educational Technology from the Open University, UK, an MA in Journalism from the University of Michigan, and a BA in Communication and English from Hope College.

She was a Commonwealth of Learning (COL) chair in Open Education Practices/Resources and is currently a board member of the International Council for Distance Education (ICDE) serving as its OER ambassador and is also a founding member of the Global Doctoral Consortium. Prof Makoe is actively involved in open and distance education associations nationally and internationally and has held leadership positions in the African Council for Distance Education (ACDE), Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA) and the National Association of Distance Education and Open Learning in South Africa (NADEOSA). She is also a founding member of the University Futures Network.

A respected scholar, Prof Makoe has delivered keynote addresses at numerous international conferences, published extensively in ODeL-related fields, and supervised doctoral students. She has contributed to UNESCO’s Futures of Higher Education and facilitated ODeL strategies and policies for universities across Africa.

Prof Makoe has worked on several commissioned research projects for organisations like the Commonwealth of Learning and the British Council. She currently serves as a council member for the Botswana Open University, further cementing her role as a leader in open and distance education in Africa.

Professor Oladiran Tayo Arulogun

Prof. Oladiran Tayo Arulogun is a distinguished expert in higher education digital transformation, currently serving as the vice-chancellor of Miva Open University, Nigeria. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, and completed postdoctoral studies at Hasso-Plattner Institute, Germany, along with specialised certificates in open and distance learning from the University of London.

Throughout his career, Prof. Arulogun has held significant academic and administrative leadership positions, including Director of LAUTECH ICT Centre and Open Distance Learning Centre and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs at Kampala International University (KIU), Uganda. His expertise in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) is recognised by Nigeria’s National Universities Commission, where he serves as an ODL expert.

His notable accomplishments include leading the LAUTECH ODL Project Management Team, which secured NUC licencing and increased LODLC enrolment from 600 to over 7,000 students. As the horizontal lead for the NUFFIC-DISH eLearning project, he managed a €2.1 million initiative supporting peace and food security in the Horn of Africa. At KIU, he worked to improve the university’s ranking to become the best private university in East Africa by 2021.

Prof. Arulogun also serves as a consultant for the Commonwealth of Learning, specializing in ODL policy formulation, authentic assessment methodologies, and Open Educational Resources implementation. His mentorship has contributed to successful ventures like Cowry Card, which revolutionised public transportation payment systems in Lagos. He is promoting Miva Open University’s use of cutting-edge technology to increase enrolment and improve its educational offerings.