The UNESCO Open Educational Resources (OER) Chairs Meeting is being held within the framework of the Open Education Global Conference 2016 in Poland. Participants in this global conference were able to hear from thought leaders in open education and had the opportunity to share ideas, practices and discuss issues important to the future of education worldwide. Sessions cover new developments in open education, research results, innovative technology, policy development and implementation, and practical solutions to challenges facing education around the world.

1. ICDE report
Gard Titlestad, Secretary General
International Council for Open and Distance Education
UNESCO Chairs in OER International Meeting
Krakow, Poland
April 11th, 2016

2. Purpose
• The purpose of this report is to:
– Be open for questions on ICDE as such
– Inform on the status of the ICDE OER Chairs scheme
– Give examples and overview on how ICDE and ICDE
members contribute to the OER work
– Inform on ICDEs general agenda and priorities (more
than OER)
– Invite OER chairs to contribute to two important
upcominginitiatives
– Inform on the process for a new ICDE Strategic Plan
2017 – 2020

3. • To be the leading global network for making quality learning
accessible throughout the world using online, open, distance and
flexible education.
• To connect institutions, organisations and professionals from
across the globe so that they can share ideas, resources and best
practices, partner on major projects and advocate together.
• To be the official partner of UNESCO, that shares that agency’s key aim
inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all.
• ICDE believes that in pursuing education as a universal right, the needs
of the learner must be central.
• To organize members in all regions of the world – global balance.
Support
From
Norway
25 years
Why is ICDE here?
UNESCO
Partner
50 years
Platinum
open access

4. Guidelines for ICDE Chairs
1.ICDE Chairs are restricted to a closely defined set of subject areas within the scope of ICDE’s mission.
2.ICDE Chairs in OER is chosen as the first theme. The number of Chairs within this theme should as a guideline not
exceed ten in total.
3.For each subject area, in this case OER, Chairs should be well-distributed around the globe.
4.Applications for an ICDE Chair can be made only for an expert at an ICDE member institution who has a Chair at that
institution and who has an outstanding record for his/her work and achievements in the subject area. The research
project portfolio of the institution and its Chair holder in the subject area in the past, as well as envisaged for the future,
should be significant.
5.UNESCO Chairs for the given subject area, in this case OER, that are ICDE members are invited to also become
ICDE Chairs.
6.The ICDE Chair label is not a funded position, but awarding it provides extra profile to the Chair holder, expressing
ICDE interest in his/her research, underlining his/her reputation, and probably contributing to better conditions to
acquire funding for research projects in the given subject area, in this case OER.
7.In each subject area, in this case OER, ICDE Chair holders are bound to establish a network in which they and their
teams collaborate and to which experts in the subject area from other universities may be admitted.
8.ICDE Chair holders are not only expected to do research and to report and publish on the work done, but also to
contribute through reports and presentations to the utilization/valorization of the outcomes of their work for the further
innovation of ODL and Lifelong Learning in general.
9.ICDE Chair holders are expected to be prepared to play a role – generally on invitation or request – at e.g. ICDE
World Conferences, SCOP Meetings, Regional Conferences, or Expert Seminars.
10.There is no formal hierarchical relation between the ICDE Chair holders and ICDE. The ICDE Chair holders have an
independent position and will inform ICDE of their activities through a light-version annual report.
11.The ICDE Chair label will be awarded for a limited term of 4 years. It can be extended, after evaluation, with a
second term but not beyond that.

5. ICDE Chairs in OER
The network of ICDE Chairs in Open Educational Resources (OER) currently consists of
seven distinguished and internationally recognized academics in the field of OER.
•Prof. Martin Weller, The Open University, UK
•Dr. María Soledad Ramírez Montoya, Tecnológico de Monterrey, México
•Dr. Rory McGreal, Athabasca University, Canada, who is a UNESCO-COL Chair in
OER
•Dr. Wayne Mackintosh, Open Education Resource Foundation and Otago Polytechnic,
who is a UNESCO-COL Chair in OER
•Dr. Daniel Burgos, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja (UNIR), Spain
•Dr. Tolly S.A. Mbwette, Pan-African University Council, Tanzania
During the Presidents' Summit in Bali in 2014, five general aims were endorsed for the
ICDE Chairs in OER initiative:
1Lead high impact events that give profile to ICDE.
2Help shape proposals for new related projects aimed at attracting funding.
3Demonstrate thought leadership through publications, videos and teaching by
highlighting the link to ICDE and their position as ICDE Chairs in OER.
4Provide ICDE with advice on policy and other areas.
5Challenge the thinking about the future.

6. Asha Singh Kanwar
President & Chief
Executive Officer
Commonwealth of
Learning, Canada
Belinda Tynan
Pro-Vice-Chancellor
(Learning and
Innovation)
Open University UK
On its first
Meeting
26/1:
”The EC will
need annual
forward-
oriented
reports from
the OER
Chairs. The EC
will discuss
the possibility
to have Chairs
on other
topics in a
future EC
meeting.”

7. ICDE members: Example UMUC

8. OER integrated in
ICDE´s work
As integrated part of ICDEś work
Examples:
Policy, e.g. Incheon, the Paris
Forum, the Pretoria Forum, the 26
ICDE World Conference etc.
Presentations and advocacy for
OER, e.g. 18/12 in Vienna and
20/12 Qingdao, interview 21/12
Studies, like the Quality models
study and the study for UNESCO
leading up to the Paris-Forum.

9. ICDE and partners: Policy,
influencing the future:
20 November 2014: Open Education
Key issues in policy for governments
and senior management in higher education
ICDE High Level Policy Forum 17 October 2015:
“Higher education for the sustainable future we want. The way ahead for
Online, Open and Flexible learning: Opportunities and Actions.”
In partership with UNESCO, CoL and OEC
Interventions, from UNESCO, ICDE and
key experts and senior management:
The Bali Message
Global High Level Forum in Paris
9 – 11 JUNE 2015:
Online, open and flexible higher
education for the future we want
UNESCO – in partnership with ICDE

10. 20 November 2014: Open Education
Key issues in policy for governments
and senior management in higher education
ICDE High Level Policy Forum 17 October 2015:
“Higher education for the sustainable future we want. The way ahead for
Online, Open and Flexible learning: Opportunities and Actions.”
In partership with UNESCO, CoL and OEC
Interventions, from UNESCO, ICDE and
key experts and senior management:
The Bali Message
Global High Level Forum in Paris
9 – 11 JUNE 2015:
Online, open and flexible higher
education for the future we want
UNESCO – in partnership with ICDE
ICDE and partners: Policy,
influencing the future:

11. 9 – 11 JUNE 2015, UNESCO HEADQUARTERS, PARIS, FRANCE.
BE PART OF A DIFFERENT FUTURE FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION.
GLOBAL HIGH LEVEL POLICY FORUM:
ONLINE, OPEN AND FLEXIBLE HIGHER
EDUCATION
FOR THE FUTURE WE WANT
FROM STATEMENTS TO ACTION: EQUITY, ACCESS, AND QUALITY
LEARNING OUTCOMES

12. SURVEY RESULTS
What We Heard – Perspectives and
Experiences from 105 Educational
Leaders from 53 Countries
June 2015
Online,'Open,'and'Flexible'Higher'Education'
for'the'Future'We'Want:'Policy'Challenges'
'
A"Background"Report"Prepared"by"the"
International"Council"of"Open"and"Distance"
Education"(ICDE)"for"the"United"Nations"
Educational,"Scientific"and"Cultural"Organization"
(UNESCO)"
"

13. Which new technological and content approaches have been tried
and/or integrated into one or more courses at your institutions in
response to student demand?
Responses in Order of Significance
Response
Percent
Open Educational Resources (OER) 72.7%
Blogs/discussion boards 69.3%
Mobile learning 69.3%
Personalized learning 48.9%
Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) or
segments of them
46.6%
Simulations/Virtual Reality 42.0%
Online Peer Assessment 34.6%
Gamification 26.1%

14. Target 3, point 43.:
A well-established, properly-regulated
tertiary education system supported by
technology, Open Educational Resources
(OERs) and distance education modalities
can increase access, equity, quality and
relevance, and narrow the gap between
what is taught at tertiary education
institutions and what economies and
societies demand. The provision of tertiary
education should be progressively free, in
line with existing international agreements.
Framework for Action
Education 2030:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/resources/online-materials/single-
view/news/the_global_education_community_adopts_and_launches_education_2030_framework_for_action/#.VmYS9OPqhBc
Adopted 4 November 2015.

15. ICDE ´s ongoing and in
the pipeline work on OER
• LangOER: 2013 – 2016 3 years EU funded project, ICDE partner.
– Workshop in partnership with OEC
• Suggestion for a study on Impact of OER: In preparation with the
ICDE OER Chairs and OEC.
– Background: US Gov. White House Workshop on Open Education, New
York 28/9-2015
• BERTA Bringing Educational Resources for Teachers in Africa: 2013 –
2015 ICDE initiated project. => Results into future work with
Teachers Task Force
• Consider suggesting initiative: Outstanding Teaching in Africa, in
partnership with
• Consider feasibility: Global, virtual collaboration on quality OER for
Post Secondary Education.

16. Main priorities 2016

17. Invite OER chairs to
contribute to
• In preparation: UNESCO initiative for Quality
(assurrance) in Higher Education – ICDE one of
the core partners - ICDE will invite chairs to
contribute
• Possible feasibility study on: Global, virtual
collaboration and access to quality OER for
Post Secondary Education (focus formal
education) – ICDE will invite chairs to
contribute, e.g. as reference persons.

18. New ICDE Strategic
Plan 2017 - 2020
ICDE 2020: The global facilitator for connected, quality learning
Focus Groups: Web consultation May – June
First draft by September 2016
Launched at the President´s Summit November
Questions for discussion:
1. Trends relevant for Online, Open and Flexible
Education.
2. The situation and state of play for ICDE (SWOT).
3. How ICDE canincrease relevance for the
members.
4. The specific role/activities ICDE should have to
make a difference from others.
5. The wanted future for ICDE and the four
suggested strategic objectives.
6.Summarizing what ICDE should do to move in
the wanted direction.

19. ”TOWARDS INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE
QUALITY EDUCATION AND LIFELONG
LEARNING FOR ALL”
Sustainable Development Goal 4: Education 2030
THANK YOU
titlestad@icde.org
www.icde.org
Seize digital opportunities, lead education transformation