Category Archives: scholarships

From the MAODE to a PhD: Moses Mwebaze in focus

We are delighted to learn that one of our MAODE graduates has been successful in applying for a PhD scholarship.

Photo of Moses Mwebaze

Moses Mwebaze, MAODE alumnus and now PhD scholar.

Moses Mwebaze studied with us from 2019 to 2021. His MAODE studies were facilitated by achieving one of the highly sought-after Commonwealth Scholarship places funded by the UK government (which we have been fortunate to also receive for the first two years of the new Masters in Online Teaching). Studying online from his home region in Uganda brought issues of connectivity, time zones, and fitting study around an already demanding role as an eLearning Specialist.

Since graduating, Moses has been an active member of our MAOT Community of Practice, continuing to support our present students and in particular the current group of Commonwealth Scholars. His inputs to our live events have always been valued, and he brings interesting and fresh perspectives to our discussions.

Now his talents have taken him on to the next step in his academic journey. Moses has successfully achieved a place at the University of Eldoret in Kenya to study for a PhD. His area of research focus will be instructional design and development. He has recently worked with a group of rural university campuses of Uganda’s Busitema University to promote online learning through the eLearning Initiative-Uganda project facilitated by the Mastercard Foundation. Moses’ roles include building capacity in digital pedagogy, instructional design, and content development, finding solutions to unstable internet connectivity, and supporting the Learning Management System (LMS) operations.

We are so proud of everything Moses has achieved and wish him every success with his PhD. We are looking forward to directing our future MAOT students to his thesis and research papers!

MAOT Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships – 2025 entry

Commonwealth Scholarships logo

Do you have a serious interest in online teaching, technology-enhanced learning and educational technology?

Would you like to gain a Master’s degree with one of the UK’s leading providers of digital education, for study commencing in February 2025? Are you a citizen of one of the following developing Commonwealth countries, a refugee from one of the following countries, or a British Protected Person?

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Are you permanently resident in one of the above countries?

The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) has been awarded 10 fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries who wish to study IET’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT). We are pleased to invite applications for these scholarships.

The closing date for applications is 16.00 (GMT) on 28 March 2024.

These Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and are intended to contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by enabling talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development by undertaking part-time Masters study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

Intended beneficiaries

High-quality candidates from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who wish to access training not available in their home countries, who wish or need to remain in their home country while they study, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

About the Masters in Online Teaching

The Open University’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT) is studied entirely online. The MAOT develops skills in the theory-informed design of technology-enhanced, blended and online learning. The MAOT is designed to address educational inequity in all its forms and, as such, is relevant to achieving inclusive, high quality, equitable blended and online education. The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for three years’ part-time distance learning, commencing in February 2025. The scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees but no other expenses.

It is likely that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship holders will study the following modules, in the order stated. However, there may be some variation in the exact content offered.

Stage 1 – February-October 2025:

Stage 2 – October 2025 – September 2026
60 credits from either four of the following 15-credit microcredentials, currently presented three times annually:

  • Online teaching: Evaluating and improving courses.
  • Teacher development: Embedding mental health in the curriculum.
  • Online teaching: Accessibility and inclusive learning.
  • Online teaching: Embedding social, race and gender-related equity.
  • Online teaching: Addressing the climate emergency (first presentation date to be confirmed).

Or one 60-credit postgraduate module chosen from:

  • Social justice, equity and equality: inclusive practice for all.
  • Exploring educational leadership: values, context and strategy.
  • Learning and teaching: educating the next generation.

Stage 3 – October 2025 – May 2026:

Who can apply?
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship to study the Masters in Online and Distance Education you must:

  • Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above, or be a British protected person; and
  • Be permanently in one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above; and
  • Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases; and
  • Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

You will also need access to a computer with reliable broadband internet access. You do not need to be working in technology-enhanced learning but you should be interested in developing expertise in this area.

General conditions for the Scholarships are available here: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/.

How to apply

Time is running out to register for autumn start modules!

The banner from the top of the H890 module website, including a photo of two female students examining a paper document.

The module website for H890.

The brand new module H890 ‘Research and Scholarship in Digital Education’ begins in early October and registration closes imminently!  This is a fantastic module with some great practical experiences including designing a detailed research proposal OR undertaking your own piece of scholarship, and on either track you will present your work at our brilliant student online conference in April! It can be taken as an integral part of the Masters in Online Teaching or as a standalone unit that is ideal for anyone about to launch into a postgraduate research degree.

Similarly registration closes soon for our October-start micro-credentials, all of which take 12 weeks with an assignment submission date in early January. These usually run three times a year, with starts also in March and June. These include:
HZFM881 Online Teaching: Creating Courses for Adult Learners (Learn the practical skills you need to create online courses successfully, and develop your ability to teach adults online)
And four (soon 5) micro-credentials that can be used as part of the Masters in Online Teaching pathway (or taken as standalone courses):

(Launching in early 2024 we also have HZFM889 Teacher Development: Addressing the Climate Emergency which will form another option for the Masters in Online Teaching).

Sign up now to avoid missing out!

Global community led by award-winning MAODE student

Since 2018 The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) has hosted Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for citizens of low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to study IET’s Masters programme, fully funded. Pakistan-based Munir Moosa Sewani was in the first cohort of Commonwealth Scholars, commencing his study of IET’s Masters in Online and Distance Education (MAODE) in 2018. Since then Munir has led numerous initiatives in his home country, and beyond, intended to support social justice and educational equity, drawing on the knowledge and skills he gained from studying the MAODE.

In March 2023 Munir was awarded The British Council’s UK Alumni Award for Pakistan in the Social Action Category as recognition for his socioecoethical model of human rights education in addition to Munir’s leadership of the Global Forum for Teacher Educators (GFTE), which he created and runs voluntarily.

Photo of Munir Moosa

The GFTE now has over 22,000 members from over 65 countries around the globe. As Director of the GFTE Munir brings the community together online for regular knowledge-sharing activities, utilising crowdsourcing and his socioecoethical vision to build capacity and advance techniques that utilise technology in the most effective ways in education settings around the world. The forum also works to enhance access to education for elderly citizens and to increase drug literacy around the globe.

Recently, the GFTE 2023 International Symposium brought together a range of keynote speakers and educator stories to create an event that attracted over 3500 attendees. IET’s own Associate Director (Curriculum) and Qualifications Director Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman, and Associate Lecturer Dr Simon Ball, were both honoured to be invited as keynote speakers, alongside the distinguished guest speaker Jennifer Hancock, founder of Humanist Learning Systems. In addition Rosa Zubizaretta and Dr Patricia Omidian spoke together on “From Conflict to Creative Collaboration: Tips for Teachers”. A range of vignettes from educators around the globe were presented to highlight the passion and commitment of teachers to making their profession better at every turn. The event was extremely well received with many hundreds of positive comments from audience members.

Everyone at IET would like to congratulate Munir on his British Council award, and we wish the Global Forum for Teacher Educators every success as it grows and strengthens.

Commonwealth Scholarships logo

Commonwealth Scholarships available for Masters in Online Teaching

Do you have a serious interest in online teaching, technology-enhanced learning and educational technology?

Would you like to gain a Master’s degree with one of the UK’s leading providers of digital teaching and learning, for study commencing in February 2024? Are you a citizen of one of the following developing Commonwealth countries, a refugee from one of the following countries, or a British Protected Person?

Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guyana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Montserrat, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia

Are you permanently resident in one of the above countries?

The Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET) has been awarded 10 fully funded Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for citizens of developing Commonwealth countries who wish to study IET’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT). We are pleased to invite applications for these scholarships.

The closing date for applications is 16.00 (GMT) on 28 March 2023.

These Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and are intended to contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by enabling talented and motivated individuals to access training and skills required for sustainable development by undertaking part-time Masters study with UK universities while remaining in their home countries.

Intended beneficiaries

High-quality candidates from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries who wish to access training not available in their home countries, who wish or need to remain in their home country while they study, and who have the potential to enhance the development of their home countries with the knowledge and leadership skills they acquire.

About the Masters in Online Teaching

The Open University’s Masters in Online Teaching (MAOT) is studied entirely online. The MAOT develops skills in the theory-informed design of technology-enhanced, blended and online learning and is designed to address educational inequity in all its forms and, as such, is relevant to achieving inclusive, high quality, equitable blended and online education. The Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships are for three years’ part-time distance learning, commencing in February 2024. The scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees but no other expenses.

It is likely that Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship holders will study the following modules, in the order stated. However, there may be some variation in the exact content offered.

Stage 1 – February-October 2024:

Stage 2 – October 2024 – September 2025:
60 credits from either four of the following 15-credit microcredentials, currently presented three times annually:

  • HZFM882 Online teaching: Evaluating and improving courses.
  • HZFM883 Teacher development: Embedding mental health in the curriculum.
  • HZFM884 Online teaching: Accessibility and inclusive learning.
  • HZFM885 Online teaching: Embedding social, race and gender-related equity.
  • HZFM889 Online teaching: Addressing the climate emergency (first presentation date to be confirmed).

Or one 60-credit postgraduate module chosen from:

  • EE845 Social justice, equity and equality: inclusive practice for all.
  • EE842 Exploring educational leadership: values, context and strategy.
  • EE830 Learning and teaching: educating the next generation.

Stage 3 – October 2025 – May 2026:

  • Compulsory module H890 Research and scholarship in digital education. This module develops skills in critically evaluating and conducting digital education-related research and scholarship and is suitable preparation for future doctoral study.

Who can apply?
To be eligible for a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship to study the Masters in Online and Distance Education you must:

  • Be a citizen of, or have been granted refugee status by one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above, or be a British protected person; and
  • Be permanently in one of the eligible developing Commonwealth countries listed above; and
  • Hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard. A lower qualification and sufficient relevant experience may be considered in certain cases; and
  • Be unable to afford to study the programme without this scholarship.

You will also need access to a computer with reliable broadband internet access. You do not need to be working in technology-enhanced learning but you should be interested in developing expertise in this area.

General conditions for the Scholarships are available here: https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-distance-learning-scholarships-candidates/.

How to apply