OU-BBC radio series on Sustainable Development Goals to launch

The Open University and the Commonwealth of Learning will come together to co-host the ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland from 9­–12 September. 

And the event will see the launch of an innovative Open University/BBC radio series premised on the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Called 17 Ways to Change the World, the series will examine each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals from the perspective of a different nation, and through the lives of 17-year-olds as they challenge the experts on what action (and inaction) will mean for their futures.

Open University academics Professor Giles Mohan, Eric Addae-Kyeremeh and Dr Aravinda Guntupalli will work with the BBC World Service production team to provide expertise and draw on pan-faculty curriculum and research.

The team will take to the stage on the first day of PCF9 to publicly launch and preview the series, which will air on BBC World Service Radio starting Wednesday 11 March 2020.

PCF9 comes in a special year for both partner institutions, as the OU celebrates its 50th Anniversary COL celebrate its 30th

This year’s Forum theme is Innovations for Quality Education and Lifelong Learning and will see an anticipated 600 delegates ­– thought leaders, practitioners and policymakers from some 60 countries – come together to debate and showcase educational innovations for improving the quality of education and creating new spaces for lifelong learning. 

Information on Forum topics, themes  and speakers and the full programme are available here.