Athabasca University President to Head UNESCO International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE)

February 13, 2008

Dr. Frits Pannekoek has been elected president of the ICDE at a weekend meeting of the organization's Permanent Secretariat in Oslo, Norway.

Dr. Pannekoek will also serve as chair of the ICDE's executive committee.

"It's a great recognition of the contribution that Athabasca University has made internationally" said Dr. Pannekoek. "Distance and open education is a passion of mine, and what an opportunity to share that passion on the world stage."

Founded in 1938, the ICDE provides a global network for institutions involved in on-line, distance and flexible education. Since the 1960's, ICDE has been working with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on distance learning projects in both less developed and highly developed countries. The ICDE is a UNESCO official Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) for education, hosted and supported by its members and the Norwegian government.

In the coming years, the ICDE will focus on a number of educational priorities including the promotion of quality distance education worldwide, organizing conferences focusing on educational development and working with government's and other NGOs involved in the education sector.

"It's about access," said Dr. Pannekoek. "Our job as educational leaders is to bring education to people wherever they live, whether that's a small village in Mozambique or a large city in Europe or North America. We'll consider ourselves successful only when everyone who wants an education can get an education."

Dr. Frits Pannekoek holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of Alberta. He has a PhD from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He has been president of Athabasca University since June 1, 2005.

Dr. Pannekoek's term as president and chair of the ICDE's executive committee is effective immediately.

For more information contact:

John O'Brien
Manager, Media Relations

Email: jobrien@athabascau.ca
Phone: 403-298-2931

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Updated August 21, 2012