Shilpa PulapakaA Push for Educational Change
Last week, I had the chance to attend the OER 24 Conference at Munster Technological University in Cork, Ireland. The conference focused on the vital themes of Open Education and its digital transformation, highlighting the important role these factors play in today’s education scene.
Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani (Vice Provost at Brock University, Canada), our keynote speaker, shared compelling stories that pointed out the big gaps in what higher education promises students and what it actually delivers. Through his stories, Dr. Jhangiani shone a light on how Open Education can be accessible and offer positive experiences, stressing the need to share resources without loading learners with the cost of expensive study materials.
A major issue he discussed was the outdated need for hard copy textbooks from pricey publishers. With the push towards digital and making educational resources available to everyone, it’s time we ditched these expensive options. Dr. Jhangiani criticised the commercial textbook model for taking money out of students’ pockets and turning them away from university education.
He also brought up how librarians, often overlooked, play a key part in spreading learning resources. Their work, usually taken for granted, deserves more recognition and respect for their significant role.
Dr. Jhangiani’s speech was a strong voice against elitism and exclusion in education. He pointed out how many educators feel left behind with the advent of new technologies and the urgent need for more government funding in higher education to prevent a scarcity of educational resources.
Highlighting the core of Open Education, Dr. Jhangiani reminded us that it’s meant for the good of everyone. In contrast, a university education, if not properly funded, benefits only those who can afford it, thus favouring personal gain over community benefit.
The need for a big change in education was a clear message. Champions of Open Education, including teachers, students, and institutions, are leading this shift. But even the best educators need support to make a real difference. Universities are encouraged to look at inclusive access to study materials and to move away from traditional commercial textbooks by publishers.
In conclusion, the OER 24 Conference in Cork wasn’t just another academic event but a call for change in the education sector. It reminded us about the need for openness, inclusiveness, and joint effort to break down the barriers put up by old practices and commercial interests in education. As we move forward, educators must fight for a more accessible, fair, and open education system.