Athabasca University awarded UNESCO/COL Chair in Open Educational Resources

February 01, 2011

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Vancouver-based Commonwealth of Learning (COL) have announced the creation of a new Chair in Open Educational Resources (OER) for Athabasca University. The chair will be held by Dr. Rory McGreal, AU's Associate Vice-president of Research. This is the first UNESCO chair to be created in Alberta and the prairie provinces. The announcement was made today at Government House in Edmonton.

As UNESCO/COL Chair, Dr. McGreal will be responsible for promoting the use of OERs at the institutional, national and international levels, particularly in the developing world. Athabasca University is committed to using OER and to opening its learning content and applications online for free access. AU is the first university in Canada to do so and is committed to sharing open content with other universities and colleges across Canada and internationally. Students, educators and institutions anywhere will be able to access the content wherever they have an Internet connection.

"I am a firm supporter of UNESCO's contribution to the United Nations Millennium Development goal of ‘Education for All'. The new UNESCO Chair in Open Educational Resources will make tangible contributions to meeting this goal, especially for learners who are unable to attend traditional classes," said Dr. Axel Meisen, president of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO. "I congratulate Athabasca University on its commitment to creating the Chair in conformity with the demanding UNESCO Chair criteria. I also wish to extend my congratulations to Dr. Rory McGreal and assure him of my support."

The chair is supported by the Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental organization created by Commonwealth governments to encourage the development and sharing of open learning/distance education knowledge, resources and technologies. COL President and C.E.O., Sir John Daniel, noted that "As a member of Athabasca University staff in the 1970s I am delighted to see this new manifestation of its commitment to opening up education and thrilled that COL is a partner. The OER movement will benefit greatly from the intellectual and practical support provided by this Chair as it strives to make a truly useful contribution to learning for development."

The Government of Alberta has welcomed the announcement of the chair.
"Alberta's post-secondary institutions have earned an international reputation as leaders and innovators," said the Honourable Doug Horner, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology. "This UNESCO Chair recognizes Athabasca University's commitment to making education more accessible to Albertans and students around the world."

Open Education Resources (OERs) are teaching and learning materials freely available online for everyone to use, including instructors, students, or self-learners. Examples of OERs include: full courses, course modules, syllabi, lectures, homework assignments, quizzes, lab and classroom activities, pedagogical materials, games, simulations, and many more resources contained in digital media collections from around the world.

"With new and more restrictive copyright legislation in the works, OERs are becoming essential for educators at all levels," said Dr. McGreal. "The survival of our educational institutions depends on increasing our use of OERs. Let's make the right decision."

Dr. McGreal's appointment is effective immediately.

https://unescochair.athabascau.ca/

For more information, contact:

John O'Brien
Manager, Media Relations
Athabasca University
403-298-2931
403-990-1131 (cell)
jobrien@athabascau.ca

 

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Updated August 21, 2012