3rd UNESCO World OER Congress advances inclusive access to knowledge [MBRF Knowledge Summit Special Issue]
This article is part of a Special Issue featuring highlights of the 9th Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) Knowledge Summit and associated 3rd UNESCO World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress.
A significant event held in conjunction with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) Knowledge Summit 2024 has been the 3rd United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress. Hosted by UNESCO in collaboration with MBRF, this event was held for the first time in the Arab world at the Dubai World Trade Centre on 19-20 November 2024.
The UNESCO OER Congress was inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council. In her opening speech, she emphasized the key role of the event in unlocking the potential of open educational resources to enhance access to knowledge, promoting collaboration in digital education and aligning global efforts to advance shared learning.
HH Sheikha Latifa also highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to tackle global challenges, expand educational opportunities, and ensure the accuracy and transparency of knowledge in an era of rapid technological progress. She also stressed the need to develop licensed programs that provide reliable information, laying a solid foundation for the future of education worldwide.
Dr Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, further highlighted the transformative potential of OER in addressing global educational challenges in an address titled “Embracing Open Solutions for a Knowledge-Inclusive Future.”
What are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
The UNESCO OER Dynamic Coalition Portal advises that:
Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
Open license refers to a license that respects the intellectual property rights of the copyright owner and provides permissions granting the public the rights to access, re-use, re-purpose, adapt and redistribute educational materials.
OER have the potential to foster learning and knowledge sharing, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities within and across countries), SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
What is the 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on OER?
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER) was adopted unanimously by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 40th session on 25 November 2019. It is the first normative instrument of UNESCO in the area of digital public goods, namely openly licensed content, and supports capacity development, policy advice, and technical support for governments to scale progress towards the achievement of the 2030 United Nations Development Agenda.
The UNESCO Recommendation on OER supports accessible and inclusive access to knowledge and information. It addresses five objectives:
- Building capacity of stakeholders to create, access, re-use, adapt and redistribute OER.
- Developing supportive policy.
- Encouraging inclusive and equitable quality OER.
- Nurturing the creation of sustainability models for OER,
- Facilitating international cooperation.
What was progressed at the 3rd UNESCO OER Congress?
Themed “Digital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge,” the 3rd UNESCO OER Congress was attended by more than 500 global participants, including ministers, academics, and representatives from the private sector.
His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of the MBRF, said that:
The congress made significant strides toward delivering open educational resources to underserved communities. It marks a new achievement in the enduring collaboration between the MBRF, the UN, and its associated bodies. Holding this event in Dubai represents the culmination of our collaborative efforts in knowledge dissemination and development, underscoring the UAE’s prominent role in supporting major development endeavors and hosting global gatherings.
The congress featured panel discussions facilitated by several senior government officials and ministers from countries worldwide. Congress participants engaged in vital discussions regarding important topics related to harnessing open solutions for building flexible digital ecosystems. They underscored the significance of leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and machine learning, to increase digital accessibility. The discussions also highlighted the advancement of worldwide digital cooperation and the resolution of intellectual property concerns in advanced technologies and AI. They further explored methods to improve equitable educational opportunities and address the educational requirements of the African continent, small island developing states, and youth with regard to obtaining quality and fair education.
The congress discussions also covered a range of initiatives addressing AI and OER, highlighting the UNESCO University Twinning Network on Open Education and the UNESCO Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Open Educational Resource Repository. Additionally, strategies to expand access to open educational content were explored locally and globally.
Congress participants further explored the implementation of the 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (as introduced above). They focused on the “Dubai Declaration on Open Educational Resources,” which emphasizes the advancement of quality and inclusive education, the building of new workforce capacities, policies regarding open educational digital resources, ensuring quality and accessibility, the sustainability of public digital resources, and fostering partnerships to enhance digital collaboration.
The congress put forth key recommendations for countries to offer these educational resources as part of a 7-year strategy aimed at empowering a larger number of students globally. The conclusion of the congress delivered a significantly positive and influential message, highlighting the very significant potential of OER and its role in achieving comprehensive accessibility of knowledge.
Acknowledgements: MBRF, Government of Dubai Media Office, UNESCO OER Dynamic Coalition Portal.
Header image: The 3rd UNESCO OER Congress was inaugurated by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council. Source: Bruce Boyes, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
