Latifa Bint Mohammed Inaugurates The 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress In Dubai To Promote Inclusive Education

H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, inaugurated the 3rd UNESCO World Open Educational Resources (OER) Congress at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This event marks the first time it is hosted in the Arab World. Organised by UNESCO with the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), it brings together global leaders to discuss open solutions and AI for inclusive knowledge access.

The Congress, themed ‘Digital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge,’ features panels, sessions, and discussions aimed at promoting equitable education through OER and new technologies. Over 500 participants, including ministers and academics, are attending this two-day event. Sheikha Latifa highlighted the importance of technology in expanding educational opportunities and ensuring knowledge transparency.

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Dr Tawfik Jelassi from UNESCO addressed the Congress on embracing open solutions for a knowledge-inclusive future. He emphasised OER's potential in tackling global educational challenges. The event included sessions like ‘Ministerial Panel: Shaping the Future of Education,’ chaired by Louise Haxthausen from UNESCO Nairobi, featuring speakers who shared strategies for innovation through OER.

One panel titled ‘Harnessing OER and Generative AI for Digital Inclusion’ explored AI's role in addressing global challenges. Chaired by Dr Colin de la Higuera from Université of Nantes, France, it featured experts like Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka from South Africa discussing gender parity in education through open solutions.

Another session focused on policies for openly licensed learning content with speakers like Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum from Ghana and Dr Huai Jinpeng from China (via video). They discussed fostering innovation through OER. The session highlighted diverse experiences in implementing these resources globally.

A panel titled ‘The Value Proposition for Openly Licensed Learning Content’ was chaired by Dr Jane Frances Agbu from Commonwealth of Learning. It showcased innovative applications of OER worldwide. Anna Tumadóttir from Creative Commons Iceland discussed open licensing's role in education's future.

Breakout Sessions on Key Action Areas

The Congress featured breakout sessions on implementing UNESCO’s 2019 Recommendation on OER. Action Areas 1 and 2 focused on capacity building and policy development aligned with UNESCO’s vision. Discussions addressed needs of Africa, LDCs, SIDS, youth, indigenous people, and vulnerable groups.

Action Area 1 centred on strengthening foundations of OER initiatives through repository optimisation and training. Action Area 2 explored policy creation to support OER sustainability. Topics included data protection and ethical use of openly licensed content.

Sustainability and Accessibility Initiatives

The second breakout session covered Action Areas 3 and 4, focusing on enhancing quality, accessibility, and sustainability in OER. Discussions highlighted promoting gender equality and addressing needs of vulnerable groups like youth and indigenous communities.

Sessions under Action Area 3 emphasised inclusive access to high-quality OER. Strategies were discussed to enhance accessibility for people of determination in low-bandwidth environments while ensuring quality assurance mechanisms are established.

Concluding Remarks

The Congress will establish guidelines to promote openly licensed content while addressing challenges posed by AI technologies. Discussions will culminate in the Dubai Declaration for Action on OER, outlining steps to advance inclusive quality education globally.

Countries have made significant progress in implementing UNESCO’s recommendations on OER. For instance, Cuba’s Virtual Health University transformed healthcare education using flexible learning methods even in remote areas. Madagascar launched an e-learning platform during COVID-19 to bridge digital divides in primary education.

The Congress aligns with Knowledge Summit objectives as a leading global event for exchanging expertise and success stories. It provides a platform introducing innovative ideas while showcasing best practices that offer actionable solutions to global challenges faced today.

With inputs from WAM