BRAOU and Commonwealth of Learning join hands for AI-enabled digital university

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU) and the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), the intergovernmental organisation based in Vancouver, Canada, have signed a partnership agreement to strengthen collaboration in digital education, artificial intelligence, faculty development and technology-enabled learning.

The agreement was signed in Vancouver on July 30, operationalising the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two institutions in Hyderabad on November 18, 2025, in the presence of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

BRAOU Vice-Chancellor Ghanta Chakrapani called the development a transformative initiative. "This collaboration brings cutting-edge global expertise, advanced digital technologies, artificial intelligence and international best practices to BRAOU. It will significantly accelerate our journey towards becoming a globally recognised AI-enabled digital university," he said.

Under the agreement, both institutions will jointly develop Open Educational Resources (OER), scholarly publications and research studies. The partnership also includes international mentorship programmes, expert consultations, peer-learning networks and joint expert teams to oversee the implementation of each work stream through structured joint contribution agreements.

Peter Scott, President and CEO of CoL, lauded BRAOU's efforts in building a comprehensive digital ecosystem. According to him, the agreement would strengthen BRAOU's capacity to become an international model for AI-enabled Open, Distance and Digital Learning. He said this would contribute significantly to expanding quality higher education across India and the Commonwealth.

While the MoU laid the broad framework for collaboration, the current agreement provides a roadmap with defined work streams, institutional mechanisms and measurable outcomes. CoL will collaborate with BRAOU to enhance its technology infrastructure, faculty capacity, digital pedagogy and learner support systems. The partnership will also advance AI-enabled teaching, collaborative research, multilingual AI applications and innovation to improve access, quality and inclusive education through technology-driven solutions.