An updated version of the UNESCO proposal for a recommendation for Open Educational Resources (OER), is now available. This version is based on the views of UNESCO member countries, so even from my own country Sweden, which was sent to UNESCO in January 2019. I have been involved myself as an OER expert, but also as an expert on behalf of the ICDE OER Advocacy Committee

The proposal will now be discussed at an intergovernmental expert meeting at the end of May. Thereafter, a decision to adopt a recommendation will be taken by UNESCO's general conference in November 2019. Will be of interest to follow the necessary strategies and further implementation in Sweden, but of course eve worldwide.

Conclusions in four points

1. Further to 39 C/Resolution 44, and 201 EX/Decision 9, a Recommendation has been identified as the best-suited form of standard-setting instrument in this area. It has been recognized that in comparison to a Convention, a Recommendation is more flexible and will become operational more rapidly. Despite being a statement of principles, it has the potential to raise the profile of OER collaboration to a higher political level in all Member States of UNESCO. This can play an important role in stimulating the realization of the potential of OER for accessing knowledge freely, providing quality content at no cost, helping to foster equitable and inclusive teaching and learning and supporting curriculum development at all levels.
2. Recognizing that the Ljubljana OER Action Plan is the outcome of a lengthy process of international collaboration and consensus building, the main themes of the Recommendation are drawn as a starting point from this document. Therefore, the draft Recommendation addresses five objectives: (i) Building capacity of stakeholders to create access, use, adapt and redistribute OER; (ii) Developing supportive policy; (iii) Encouraging inclusive and equitable quality OER; (iv) Nurturing the creation of sustainability models for OER; and (v) Facilitating international cooperation. 
3. A Recommendation on OER could potentially play a strong role in supporting strategic cooperation between the Member States in OER development, to minimize unnecessary duplication in OER development investments and to develop a global pool of culturally diverse, locally relevant, gender-responsive, accessible, educational materials in multiple languages.
4. Based on the present study, it is clear that a Recommendation on OER would provide a dynamic and effective solution for supporting an international collaboration in this area which is of utmost importance at a time when the usage, creation, and availability of OER has become an essential building block for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

4 June 2019, 10:00 – 18:00h

Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

This is a very interesting initiative from the European Commission and EASME, carried out by PWC. I am myself expert and evaluator for the project. Now it is time for the final public workshop in Brussels 4th June 2019. Welcome to join!

How can we effectively promote online training in the workforce in Europe? Join us at a high-level conference in Brussels on 4 June 2019 in the context of the ongoing initiative of the European Commission. The conference will focus on new solutions, best practices and policy measures that reflect the need to upskill and reskill a significant percentage of the European workforce, and that would truly support enterprises, especially SMEs in this challenge. It will bring together policymakers, practitioners, academic and industry professionals, as well as course developers, start-ups and publishers, with a shared interest in promoting new technology-enhanced learning and training methods. Should you want to join the conference, please fill out the registration form

Read the interim report here

We invite you to join us at a high-level conference in Brussels on 4 June 2019, where the above-mentioned topics will be discussed with experts from all over Europe. The conference takes place in the context of the ongoing initiative of the European Commission on “Promoting Online Training Opportunities for the Workforce in Europe”(October 2017 – September 2019), that is coordinated by PwC, in cooperation with European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) and Espace Mendes France.

The conference will focus on new solutions, best practices and policy measures that reflect the need to upskill and reskill a significant percentage of the European workforce, and that would truly support enterprises, especially SMEs in this challenge. It will bring together policymakers, practitioners, academic and industry professionals, as well as course developers, start-ups and publishers, with a shared interest in promoting new technology-enhanced learning and training methods. Should you want to join the conference, please fill out the registration form.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 Within the framework of the 2019’s European Lecture Series, the Institute of Education at Universidad del Norte held the XII edition of the "Societies before the Digital Challenge and the UNESCO International Chair Seminar" Symposium on March 21 and 22 of 2019 in Barranquilla (Colombia), which on this occasion addressed topics related to E-learning, Higher Education and Quality. 

I was invited to give several presentations Open Education in and for the 21st century. Impact and challenges and CHALLENGES OF E-LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION. QUALITY AND REPUTATION. discussions in panels, and participating in Ph.D. Symposium as well as a 1/2 day with V Chancellor, Deans, and Directors on the discussion going Online for Universidad del Nort.

The concert 9th Beethoven Symphony with among others, Opera Singer Alexandra Steiner and Laura Lungu, General Manager - Concertissimo Entertainment Ltd.we had the opportunity to attend in Barranquilla, Colombia organized by Catedra Europa and Universidad del Norte. Opera singer Alexandra Steiner and Lectora Laura Lungu, Concertissimo. It was just amazing. It was sent on TV as well. Some 3000 in the audience, some 250 in the choir. Thanks for the opportunity <3 <3 <3

This week is the annual Open Education Week, OEW2109. Open education encompasses resources, tools, and practices that employ a framework of open sharing to improve educational access and effectiveness worldwide. Founded in 2013 by the Open Education Consortium, the goal of Open Education Week is to raise awareness and showcase the impact of open education on teaching and learning worldwide. Open Education Week has become one of the most foremost global events recognizing high achievement and excellence in open education. The week-long event spotlights amazing work from over a dozen categories including live, face-to-face events, webinars, projects, and resources. The Best-of-the-Best participate in Open Education Week.

 I myself contributed with two presentations, one on the 6th March on behalf of the ICDE OER Advocacy Committee on OER and the SDG4 for access, equity, equality, inclusiveness, quality, and lifelong learning and OER and the SDG4 for access, equity, equality, inclusiveness, quality, and lifelong learning. Slides on SlideShare here. The other one was on behalf of EDEN SIG TEL QE, and the theme of OER Quality Assessment and the topic  of Quality Assurance Guidelines for Open Educational Resources and the TIPS Framework

EDEN, which I am working for and in the EDEN EC, EDEN Fellow, EDEN Council of Fellows and chair of The Special Interest Group on TEL and QE, was offering 5 webinars as part of the Open Education Week:

Education 2030 – Open knowledge, skills, attitudes and values in Europe and the world – Monday, 4 March 2019, 13:00 CET
The story of the Open University in Europe and the world – Tuesday, 5 March 2019, 13:00 CET
Ongoing initiatives for Open Education in Europe – Wednesday, 6 March 2019, 13:00 CET
OER quality assessment – Thursday, 7 March 2019, 13:00 CET
Researching openness – evidence-based approach – Friday, 8 March 2019, 13:00 CET

EDEN Executive Committee meeting took place in Rome, Italy 21-22 February 2019, hosted by University Roma III. Besides the usual items on the agenda as,  minutes from the last meeting, financing, next conferences, Fellowships etc. we dedicated time to work on strategic discussions for EDEN future! Each EC member had been asked to provide SWOT analyses in advance, and then we had a "Tour the Table", and a common SWOT was finally created. We planned to continue our good actions and we agreed and was excited about new initiatives. One of the other important items on the agenda was on How to deal with Brexit. It has been a long process prior to this meeting, at our online meetings during the year, especially since autumn and a  special working group together with EDEN Secretariat had prepared different scenarios, and a process forward. It is a really complex problem for a European Association as ours, as we are depending Operational Grants from the European Commission. 

As always great discussions and an open professional and personal atmosphere. EDEN is like a family, just love it. Since June 2018 in Genova, I am on my second period in the EDEN Executive Committee. Besides being an EDEN Fellow (since 2014) and EDEN Council of Fellows (since 2018), I am Chairing the EDEN SIG on TEL and Quality Enhancement, follow us at LinkedIn.   

EDEN Executive Committee; Elena Caldirola, Ebba Ossiannilsson, Antonella Poce, Josep M Duart, Andras Sucz, Airina Volungeviciene, Ulf-Daniel. Ehlers, Rebecca Galley, Mark Brown, Ferenc Tatrai, Sandra Kučina Softić och Lisa Marie Blaschke adn Diana Andone

Our next upcoming event from EDEN is the annual Open Education Week, #OEWeek  4-6 March 2019, where we host webinars every day during the week. On Thursday 7 March 2109 I will give a presentation at the webinar on OER Quality Assessment. The event next to that is the EDEN Annual Conference in Bruges, Belgium., Connecting through Educational Technology 16-19 June 2019.