Higher education systems around the world are facing growing challenges in meeting increasing demand for education while managing rising costs. At the same time, institutions must respond to rapid technological developments, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), cope with budget constraints, and continue advancing inclusive and equitable access to higher education.
In this context, Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Education Practices have emerged as strategic approaches to expanding educational opportunities, improving access to knowledge, and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of higher education systems. However, realizing the full transformative potential of these approaches requires enabling policies at institutional, provincial, state, and national levels that support the development, adoption, and mainstreaming of OER and open education practices.
This seminar explores the critical role of open education policy as more than a mechanism for developing educational resources. It examines how policy can serve as a strategic instrument for advancing educational justice, strengthening public value, promoting equitable access to education, and fostering sustainable higher education systems. The presentation also highlights the importance of comprehensive policy frameworks to ensure the long-term sustainability and widespread adoption of OER and Open Education Practices.
Drawing on the work of Open Education Global (www.oeglobal.org), an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing open education worldwide, the seminar will present insights from recent doctoral research examining governmental OER policies across different countries, as well as the roles played by international organizations such as UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning in promoting more open, accessible, and inclusive education.
In addition, the session will explore how other dimensions of openness, including Open Access, Open Science, and Open Source Software, can collectively contribute to advancing the global open education agenda. It will advocate for more intentional and coordinated efforts to connect these domains through both policy development and practical implementation.
Dr. Igor Lesko is the Co-Executive Director of Open Education Global (OEGlobal), an international non-profit organization committed to promoting and mainstreaming open education worldwide.
Originally from Slovakia and based in South Africa since 2003, Dr. Lesko has more than 16 years of experience in advancing Open Educational Resources (OER), open education policy, nonprofit leadership, and international collaboration. Throughout his career, he has worked with international, national, and nonprofit organizations to develop strategies that expand access to knowledge and information.
Dr. Lesko holds an MA (Cum Laude) in Social Development from the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), an MA in Development Management from Ruhr University (Germany), and a PhD from the Open University of the Netherlands.
His doctoral research examined the role of international organizations in shaping governmental Open Educational Resources (OER) policies between 2002 and 2019. The study also investigated policymakers' perceptions of the effectiveness of these organizations and proposed recommendations for broadening access to educational resources and learning opportunities.
At Open Education Global, Dr. Lesko co-leads the organization's global initiatives, strategic partnerships, international conferences, and community engagement activities that support the worldwide mainstreaming of open education.
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