Welcome Note Print
Welcome to the web site of the Small States Association for Cooperation and Development in Education. The web site provides information about the Association as well as member and non-member participation. In the near future the site will also provide services to students. Please feel welcome to browse through the site. The Association will be happy to provide any assistance, and suggestions are always welcome.

 

Introduction

In 2001 two Foundations were created as an initiative of St. Thomas Institute, Malta. These were the Small States Foundation for the Development of Open, Flexible and Distance Education and the Small States Foundation for Distance and Direction Education. In 2002 the two Foundations were merged, thus creating the Small States Foundation for Cooperation and Development in Education, reflecting the wider scope of this new Foundation. In 2006 this new Foundation resolved to create the Small States Association for Cooperation and Development in Education. This was done with the full cooperation of St. Thomas Institute, which is now the Association’s main sponsor.

The Association was conceived in 2007 and was formally launched in December 2009. Now that the scope and parameters of the Association have been clearly defined, backed by years of research, the Association is ready to collaborate with other organisations and individuals in the field in order to achieve the goals of its Mission Statement. The association is not a formal body but primarily a network of individuals and organisations. It is a not-for-profit activity and does not take or make payments.

 

Scope

The Association is dedicated to promoting cooperation and development in Education, particularly in countries with a small population. The Association strongly believes in the importance of Distance and Direction Education™ in helping achieve this goal.

 

Mission Statement

The Small States Association for Cooperation and Development in Education is committed to:

  • Establishing itself as an international forum to facilitate the development of open, flexible and distance education generally and for small states generally.
  • The development of international standards in open, flexible and distance education.
  • The development of educational resources for students from small states.
  • The development of research resources for students from small states.
  • Overcoming the barriers of time, location and language for students from small states.
  • Spreading the concept of Direction Education™.