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Today the UWI Open Campus started its two-day Country Conference, the second of its kind to be held in Belize.

The Open Campus held its conference under the theme "Building our Nation's Sustainability through Education, Culture and Technology."

The event is aimed at influencing opinions and activating change for Belize:

Luz Longsworth: Director, Open Campus-Country Sites
"The major aim is for us to have a public discussion on the issues that are of concern to Belize to look at the research on Belize in the various thematic areas of the conference and to see how that research can guide, can influence, can activate public opinion and action on change."

One of those topical topics discussed today, was "Virtually There" Making Online Training Real for Caribbean Literacy Coaches-What Governments Can Do" A topic highlighting the relevance and application of Online Training for Teachers:

Dr. Michelle McAnuff Gumbs, College of Saint Rose-Albany, New York
"I think in terms of training our teachers online, many of our students might be in places where they might not be able to access a University of the West Indies physical center and I think the online training offers them this opportunity to really earn their qualifications in maybe literacy, something that they need to have and so its easy access for them as well. but at the same time our students want to know that there is quality in what they are getting, in what they are getting in not subpart the quality that the University of the West Indies is known for."

Luz Longsworth, Director, Open Campus-Country Sites
"I was very excited that Dr. Gumbs came because the open campus as you know is really promoting and expansion of virtual learning and she is one of our key online coordinators and course producers and what I think she has shown is that the wealth of resources that we have in the region, we tend to think that we are resource poor but what she showed is that our own indigenous resources became a very powerful learning tool compared to resources that came from North America and other parts of the region."

Dr. Michelle McAnuff Gumbs, College of Saint Rose-Albany, New York
"I do believe and that's what I argued for in my presentation that we need to create shareable resources for our teachers and provide teachers a way of sharing online or sharing with other teachers what they know can actually work so I am arguing for the development or the enhancements of this kind of online resource where teachers can access resources online, access depictions of best practice so that they can grow in their practice as teachers."

After this conference is over, Jane Bennett- Head of the UWI Open Campus says that it is hoped that the discussion will lend itself to a proactive approach among the participants which will move along development efforts:

Jane Bennett, Head: UWI Open Campus- Belize
"Well hopefully people who have listen and interacted with presenters and even the presenters themselves will have gathered more information on the topic that they presented and they can go back and enhance their work and for the general public who would have learn something maybe that would propelled them to follow their dream or to get involve with some project or some current issue that's dear to their heart or that they now have more information on and so they can make a contribution and its all towards our sustainable development as a nation."

The papers presented at the conference will be posted on the Open Campus Website.