This Portal aims to support knowledge exchange and collaboration on the activities of the OER Dynamic Coalition in the framework of the 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on OER. The principles of openness, accessibility and multilingualism, reflected in the UNESCO Recommendation on OER are key to the exchanges on this Portal.
Our mission is clear: to support the implementation of the UNESCO 2019 Recommendation on OER. Through advocacy, knowledge sharing, and capacity development, we empower stakeholders across all action areas outlined in the Recommendation, particularly Members States and institutions. But our ultimate goal is even greater – to unleash the potential of OER for digital learning and ensure universal access to information for all by supporting and providing stakeholders with specific tools in order to help them implement the UNESCO Recommendation on OER.
The main objectives of the UNESCO OER Dynamic Coalition are to:
- Support the exchange of knowledge on ongoing activities - to raise the level of understanding on ongoing OER projects, networks, resources, and activities; and
- Facilitate moderated collaboration on OER activities related to the five areas of Action of the OER Recommendation.
What is the 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on OER?
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER) was adopted unanimously by UNESCO’s General Conference at its 40th session on 25 November 2019. It is the first normative instrument of UNESCO in the area of digital public goods, namely openly licensed content.
Open Educational Resources (OER) are learning, teaching and research materials in any format and medium that reside in the public domain or are under copyright that have been released under an open license, that permit no-cost access, re-use, re-purpose, adaptation and redistribution by others.
Open license refers to a license that respects the intellectual property rights of the copyright owner and provides permissions granting the public the rights to access, re-use, re-purpose, adapt and redistribute educational materials.
The UNESCO Recommendation on OER supports accessible and inclusive access to knowledge and information. OER have the potential to foster learning and knowledge sharing, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, namely SDG 4 (Quality education), SDG 5 (Gender equality), SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities within and across countries), SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals).
Why is the OER Recommendation important?
The UNESCO Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER) 2019, adopted by consensus by UNESCO Member States, is the Organization’s first normative instrument in the area of digital public goods – openly licensed content- and supports capacity development , policy advice, and technical support for Governments to scale progress towards the achievement of the 2030 United Nations Development Agenda.
The UNESCO Recommendation on OER addresses five objectives: (i) building capacity of stakeholders to create, access, re-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.
Who we are
As OER Dynamic Coalition, we bring together stakeholders from Member States, including from Ministries responsible for Education and/or Communication and Information Technologies, National Commissions to UNESCO, educational institutions and bodies, cultural institutions (including libraries, archives and museums), Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs), UNESCO Category 2 Centres, specialised institutions, civil society and the private sector.
In March 2023, the UNESCO OER Dynamic Coalition was recognized as an official Dynamic Coalition of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) - a global multistakeholder platform established by the UN Secretary General to facilitate the discussion of public policy issues pertaining to the Internet. As proud members of the IGF, we are committed to promoting OER adoption and usage, while building the capacity to access and utilize OER in line with the Global Digital Compact.
For more information about the IGF Dynamic Coalitions, please click here!
What we Do?
Established by UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector in March 2020, the Open Educational Resources (OER) Dynamic Coalition is a multistakeholder global mechanism to facilitate collaboration and key stakeholder dialogues and exchanges globally on key digital solutions, policies and strategies to leverage for the SDGs.
It focuses on fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration on the implementation of the first four areas of action of the UNESCO Recommendation on OER,: capacity building, policy development, promoting inclusive and equitable quality OER, and creating sustainability models.
We empower countries to unlock the full potential of OER promoting universal access to information for all (SDG 16.10) and access to inclusive and quality education and SDG4.
We strongly believe in the potential of international cooperation and its power of to create a global network to drive positive change.