Commonwealth Education Ministers conceived the idea of the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth at their meeting in Halifax, Canada, in 2000. Following the Halifax meeting, COL chaired a technical advisory committee and helped draft a proposal for the VUSSC. A small group of Ministers, meeting in the Seychelles in March 2003, reviewed the proposal and recommended it to the Edinburgh Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) in October 2003.

VUSSC member countries have met on two occasions in Singapore. At the first meeting in September 2005, a Letter of Intent and a Singapore Statement were agreed. COL was charged with leading the initiative and seeking potential funding sources for activities.

With support from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, a second meeting has been hosted, once again in Singapore, at which a plan of action to begin the creation of open educational resources (OERs).

The Singapore Government was most supportive in making it possible for countries to meet on both occasions.

The VUSSC members have started their first project to create OERs, using exiting available course content which will be made available via the Internet. While the first project involves the development of learning content in entrepreneurship and tourism, a list of priority areas has been agreed. These will be progressed as funds become available. All countries are contributing their available resources and expertise to this initiative.

The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC) is providing £1 million Sterling to COL over the next four years for the Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth. This funding will be used to support the development of learning content, such as the materials on tourism and entrepreneurship developed in the VUSSC start-up workshop in Mauritius in August 2006. It will also support two similar workshops in 2007, which will involve more small states of the Commonwealth, and will focus on professional development of educators and life skills for youth.

COL is actively looking for funds to support VUSSC content creation. Development agencies and others that are interested in pursuing this opportunity are encouraged to contact Mr. John Lesperance, COL, Education Specialist, Virtual University for Small States of the Commonwealth.