Open Educational Resources
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 Recommendation on OER, adopted by UNESCO鈥檚 General Conference at its 40th session on 25 November 2019, is the first international normative instrument to embrace the field of openly licensed educational materials and technologies in education.
To support Member States implementation of the 2019 Recommendation on OER, UNESCO established the OER Dynamic Coalition. The OER Dynamic Coalition aims to support networking and sharing of information to create synergies around the 5 areas of action of the recommendation: (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.
Dubai Declaration on Open Educational Resources (OER): digital public goods and emerging technologies for equitable and inclusive access to knowledge
The Dubai Declaration on OER was formally adopted on November 20, 2024, during the 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress, themed 鈥Digital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge.鈥
This declaration is the outcome of an extensive and collaborative effort aimed at advancing the implementation of the UNESCO 2019 Recommendation on OER.
The 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress, 19 and 20 November 2024, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
The 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress, 鈥楧igital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge' (19鈥 20 November 2024, Dubai U.A.E.) was hosted by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Knowledge Foundation and was aimed to enhance global cooperation and innovation in Open Educational Resources (OER) in the framework of the 2019 UNESCO Recommendation on OER.
For more information: oerrecommendation@unesco.org
Contribution to the 2030 Agenda
UNESCO contributes to SDG 4 on quality education for all.
Gender equality, enshrined in SDG 5 and a key enabler to achieve all other SDGs.
SDG 9 calls for the enhancement of scientific research and innovation especially in developing countries.
SDG 10 calls for reducing inequalities.
UNESCO contributes to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.
SDG 17 calls for partnerships for the Goals.
OER and knowledge and skills acquisition: What is the UNESCO OER Recommendation?
This extract gives an overview of the different policy areas of the OER Recommendation and illustrates the potential of OER in building inclusive societies as well as the main stakeholders.
News
Events
Facts and Figures
out of which 13 SIDS and 4 Associate Member States participated in OER events in 2022.
to raise awareness and strengthen capacity on the OER Recommendation since its adoption.
36% women involving 25 Member States.
Documents
