The title “Honorary Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning” recognises outstanding contributions by an individual to distance education in areas such as: leadership and service, published works including courseware, lectures and presentations and mentorship.
Consideration is typically limited to citizens of Commonwealth countries and the title is conferred for life. COL names Honorary Fellows during the Pan-Commonwealth Forums, and does not seek nominations for this award.
The latest awards were presented at the Ninth Pan-Commonwealth Forum on Open Learning (PCF9) organised with The Open University, UK in Edinburgh from 9 to 12 September 2019.

Pictured (left to right): Professor Clement Sankat, Professor Datuk Dr Asma Ismail, Professor Abdalla Uba Adamu, Professor Asha Kanwar, COL President and CEO, Dr Linda Sissons, Mr Kamaraj Keppanan, Ms Anne Gaskell, representative of Professor Mandla Makhanya, and Professor Nageshwar Rao.