Pioneering Past and Bright of Impactful Research and Scholarly Achievements

“EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” P A G E 46 Collaboration in HIV and AIDS Policy and Practice: Awareness and Training in Caribbean and African Communities Through the Global Development Learning Network Between 2003 and 2005, The University of Technology, Jamaica hosted a series of global development dialogues on issues related to HIV and AIDS among African and Caribbean countries including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, St. Lucia, Barbados and Jamaica. These dialogues were facilitated through interactive videoconferencing using the World Bank’s Global Development Learning Network (GDLN). In discrete development dialogues, participants shared country perspectives on issues ranging as widely as national strategies for HIV education, gender and HIV, policy development, stigma and discrimination, and strategies for caring for AIDS orphans. This case study will explore the lessons learnt in facilitating these global videoconferencing dialogues, celebrate the successes and identify the challenges of the experiences of participants and presenters shared across the various cultures. Since the phenomenon of using development dialogues for sharing knowledge and experience across cultures for teaching and learning, peer mentoring, consultation, advice and guidance, feedback and facilitating communities of practice in relation to HIV and AIDS, the recommendations in this presentation will be of interest to future organizers and facilitators of HIV and AIDS development dialogues. Beyond the process issues, the paper will highlight the outcomes and better practices adopted. Jeanette Bartley-Bryan and Nancy George Office of Open & Distance Learning and Curriculum Development Editor’s Note: This paper was presented at the PanCommonwealth Forum 5: London published by the Commonwealth of Learning, BC: Canada. And the full article is available online at http://wikieducator.org/images/f/f4/PID_521.pdf. Jeanette Bartley-Bryan