Click to discover 23 reasons in favor of Open Education!

This year, we contribute (once again) to OEWeek and the month of Open Education with a brand new initiative.

With the help of our friends at the UNOE network and the EUniWell European University of Wellbeing, we explore the arguments why people and institutions should opt for Open Education.

To this end, 23 contributors from 13 countries have agreed to contribute an article to justify one of 23 reasons. Throughout the month of March, we will share with you their thoughts on why we should all adopt Open Education.

Each article will be available in several languages. One version in English, and at least one other version in French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Hungarian, Italian or Portuguese.

This proposal was made possible thanks to collaborative work. Our warmest thanks to the authors for accepting our invitation and rising to the challenge!

reason #1

In this article, Glenda Cox discusses the important topic of localisation within the context of open education. The topic is particularly meaningful when you adopt a global perspective and look at education from a variety of points of view.

Glenda work at the University of Cape Town, South Africa and holds the UNESCO chair in Open Education and Social Justice. She is also a member of the UNITWIN network on Open Education: UNOE (2024-2028).

Translation and localisation

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/permettre-la-localisation-et-la-traduction/?lang=fr.

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/translation-and-localisation/?lang=es.

reason #2

In this article, Magdalena Spaude gives us five good reasons for which OER improve quality: they serve as inspiration, they can be customized, they enable feedback, they promote cooperation and are sustainable.

Magdalena works in the Prorectorate for Teaching and Studies at the University of Cologne (Germany) as an expert for open education and digital teaching and learning.

Promote quality

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/promouvoir-la-qualite/?lang=fr.

German version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/qualitat-fordern/?lang=de.

reason #3

In this article, Sophie Depoterre and Yves Deville revisit the words “variety” and “wealth” in order to convince us that Open Education achieves just that.

Sophie and Yves run the OER programs at UC Louvain, in Belgium, recognized as one of the pioneering sites for OER in the francophone world.

Access to varied knowledge

French version: https://chaireunescorelia.univ-nantes.fr/connaissance-variee/.

reason #4

In this article, Belén García-Manrubia tells us how and why Open Educational Practices are able to respond faster to the challenges of fast-changing technologies. As Belén puts it “Only in this way can we move towards a more agile, inclusive and future-proof education system.”.

Belén is professor in the Department of Didactics of Mathematical and Social Sciences and director of the Aula Sénior at the University of Murcia (Spain).

https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/respond-fast-to-tech-challenges

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/repondre-rapidement-aux-changements-technologiques/?lang=fr.

Spanish version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/respondiendo-rapidamente-a-los-desafios-tecnologicos-del-futuro/?lang=es.

reason #5

In this article, Paul Stacey discusses autonomy. Paul Stacey, from Canada, has taken several key roles in the promotion of Open Education over the years and is today an independent researcher and consultant. Paul’s main message could be: “At a time of high interest in sovereignty, open education provides a means for having choice and reclaiming control over the resources, methods, and systems that shape education.”.

Encouraging autonomy

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/encourager-lautonomie/?lang=fr.

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/fomentar-la-autonomia/?lang=es.

reason #6

In this article, Loubna Terhzaz discusses the question of evaluative judgement. It has become important with the advent of generative AI; Loubna argues that open education gives more opportunities to develop this skill.

Loubna Terhzaz is a professor at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco, which is a member of UNOE.

Development of Evaluative Judgment

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/developpement-du-jugement-evaluatif/?lang=fr.

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/desarrollo-del-juicio-evaluativo/?lang=es.

Arabic version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/تطوير-الحكم-التقييمي/?lang=ar.

reason #7

In this article, Mitja Jermol discusses the crucial issue of truth and fake. Mitja is UNESCO Chair in Slovenia and very much involved in IRCAI. He is the promoter of the fantastic “Open Education for a Better World”, a hugely inspiring mentoring program. Mitja is also a well-known AI specialist. In today’s post, he tells us about the urgency to deal with these questions and how Open Education can help.

Separating Fake from Truth in Education

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/differencier-le-vrai-du-faux-dans-leducation/?lang=fr/.

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/separar-lo-falso-de-la-verdad-en-la-educacion/?lang=es.

reason #8

In this article, Rob Farrow explores how equity issues can be tackled -at least in part- through open educational practices. “Equity is fundamentally about fairness, which requires recognizing that different students face different challenges.”

Rob Farrow is both Senior Research Fellow in the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University (UK) and co-director of the GO-GN network, the successful network of PhD studies related to OE.

Favour equity

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/favoriser-lequite/?lang=fr.

reason #9

In this article, Marianne Dubé shows the path to have a more sustainable -or durable- education. She suggests four open pillars for this:

access to quality knowledge,
using OER,
an approach based on the learners,
co-construction of knowledge and skills.

Marianne is a key enthusiastic actress of OER in Quebec and today in charge of these policies at Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec, Canada).

Obtain a sustainable education

French version: https://chaireunescorelia.univ-nantes.fr/education-durable/.

reason #10

In this article, Katalin Monzéger lists a number of ways through which Universities can benefit from adopting OER. Katalin observes, for example, that “Regarding the reputation of the institution, OERs can attract further students who can take part in a course or lecture before enrolling”.

Katalin Monzéger works as an educational methodology advisor at the Center for Educational Development, Methodology and Organization at Semmelweis University, Budapest (Hungary).

Contribute to the reputation of universities

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/contribuer-a-la-reputation-de-luniversite-et-de-lecole/?lang=fr.

reason #11

In this article, Matthieu Cisel relates the question of OER with the emergence of generative AI.

He’s an assistant professor at CY Cergy Paris University (France) and, after having written a remarkable -and remarked- PhD on MOOCs, is now engaged in visiting the links between OER and AI.

Diminish costs

French version: https://chaireunescorelia.univ-nantes.fr/diminuer-couts/.

reason #12

In this article, “collaboration” is the key word. Collaboration can take many forms. In this case, we are fortunate that Darrion Letendre and Robert Lawson from NorQuest College (Canada) introduce the topic, with a very special perspective.

Incentivize cooperation

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/encourager-la-collaboration/?lang=fr.

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/incentivar-la-colaboracion/?lang=es.

reason #13

In this article, Anne-Catherine Baseilhac discusses the ways in which Open Educational Practices can contribute to teachers’ recognition.

Anne-Catherine leads the Nantes Université (France) Fabrique REL (“OER Factory”), and is an enthusiastic promoter and disseminator of Open Educational Resources.

Recognize teachers’ work

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/reconnaitre-le-travail-de-lenseignant%c2%b7e/?lang=fr.

reason #14

In this article, Benedetta Calonaci explores perhaps the most fundamental reason for which we open education: the desire to share knowledge. Sharing never is easy. But open educators believe it is the right goal.

Benedetta is a librarian at Università di Firenze (Italy), which is part of EUniWell.

Sharing knowledge

French version: https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/partager-des-connaissances/?lang=fr.

reason #15

In this article, Pierre-Antoine Gourraud defends the idea that open education is in the benefit of public service. He also remarks that open educators accept to lose control: and this is indeed an essential component of their success.

Pierre-Antoine is a Doctor and a Professor at Nantes Université. He is in charge of the open data policies for France and has himself led project Makair, in which an open source respirator was launched during the Covid pandemic.

Contribute to public service

French version: https://chaireunescorelia.univ-nantes.fr/service-public/.

reason #16

In this article, Djaine Damiati, Débora Sebriam and Isabela Campos Menezes give us a historical background to creative thinking and argue that open education gives the right setting for this to happen.

Djaine Damiati, Débora Sebriam and Isabela Campos Menezes are researchers at the Universidade Nacional de Brasilia (Brazil). Djaine and Isabela work at the UNESCO Chair in Open Education and Technologies for the Common Good which is part of the Unitwin network UNOE.

Incentivize original thinking

Original version in Portuguese : https://chaireunescorelia.univ-nantes.fr/incentivar-pensamento-original/.

French version : https://unitwin-unoe.org/developper-une-pensee-originale/?lang=fr.

Spanish version : https://unitwin-unoe.org/incentivar-el-pensamiento-original/?lang=es.

reason #17

In this article, Javiera Atenas reflects on what a sustainable educational system could be like. This leads her to take a holistic approach and Javiera covers here the entire spectrum of openness.

Born in Chile and having worked in Spain and Germany, today, Javiera is a senior lecturer at the University of Suffolk (UK).

Build a sustainable education system

French version : https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/construire-un-systeme-educatif-durable/?lang=fr.

Spanish version : https://euniwell-open-education.univ-nantes.fr/construir-un-sistema-educativo-sostenible/?lang=es.

reason #18

In today’s entry to the 23 good reasons for Open Education series, Dorothy Laubscher explains how open practices allow agency to be exercised. And Dorothy advocates that this is particularly important in the Global South. Dorothy holds the UNESCO Chair on Multimodal Learning and OER at North-West University, in South Africa.

Deal with agency issues

French version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/traiter-les-questions-dagentivite/?lang=fr

Spanish version: https://unitwin-unoe.org/tratar-las-cuestiones-de-agencialidad/?lang=es

reason #19