The conference theme is "Access to Learning for Development" with a focus on children and young people, health, livelihoods, social justice, conflict, and governance. PCF5 is sponsored by the University of London External System, the Open University, UK, and the UNESCO.

PCF5 is an international conference to explore the contribution of open and distance learning to international development goals by opening up access to learning at every level. The Forum is for practitioners, researchers, planners, and policy makers in the fields of open and distance learning and development. It provides opportunities to share experience and expertise and to contribute to future policy and provision. Participants will represent the main Commonwealth, European, and international institutions and agencies that are active in the field, including funding bodies and technology providers.

The Commonwealth of Learning's Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning has grown to become the leading international conference on learning and development. It is held biennially in collaboration with the Federation of Commonwealth Open and Distance Learning Associations (COL). It is co-hosted with partners in different regions of the Commonwealth, and PCF5 is bringing the Forum to Europe for the first time. COL's Excellence in Distance Education Awards
are also presented at the Forum.