Open and Distance Learning has become known as a veritable vehicle of access to educational opportunities for a substantial proportion of the population all over the world. However, ODL has its own daunting challenges. To help address them, the University of Ibadan's Distance Learning Centre is organizing an international conference, which includes a pre-conference workshop on appropriate evaluation practices in ODL.

It has become evident that traditional educational systems are not capable of eradicating mass illiteracy on the African continent and in developing nations elsewhere. Therefore, the major vehicle to achieve mass literacy in line with the United Nations focus is affordable, quality open and distance education for all. This 21st-century initiative calls for continuous and constant examination of reforms and quality assurance/control to attain appreciable levels, bearing in mind the attendant challenges and idiosyncrasies of the African countries.

Against this background, the Distance Learning Centre of the University of Ibadan invites participants to the International Conference on Open Distance Learning to enable researchers, practitioners and other stakeholders from all over Africa and the world at large to come together to share their experiences and exchange ideas for taking education to greater heights. The Conference is also aimed at capacity building of individuals involved with Open Distance Education in Africa.

Conference Themes include

• Learning Resources
• Funding and Resource Mobilisation
• Culture and Attitudes
• Management and Organization
• Psychological Components of Teachers and Learners
• ICT Issues in Open and Distance Learning Programmes
• Developing Partnerships and Collaboration
• Quality Assurance/Control in Open Distance Learning
• Private Sector Participation in ODL, including public-private partnership in ODL

The registration fee for the conference is N20,000 or $200. The fee covers registration, conference bags and materials, tea breaks, and lunch but not accommodation. Other participants i.e. organizers of forums, relevant parallel workshops, and exhibitors of services or wares are required to pay additional fees. There will be refereed publication of the Conference proceedings.

The keynote speaker is Professor Abiola Odejide - Dept. of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.