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Articles and Updates

Open Education Week 2025: An African Marriage of OER and AI

02 March 2025

With the focus on open education and open technologies during Open Education Week, which runs from 3 to 7 March 2025, let’s explore some ways in which open content is being harnessed by Artificial Intelligence (AI) models to deliver quality education to some of Africa’s youth.

Two women sitting with their backs facing each other. One is on a laptop and the other is on a tablet

OER Highlights from Africa in 2024

28 January 2025

As Open Educational Resources (OER) continue to gain traction around the world, Africa remains a region that is brimming with opportunities to harness their potential. Here is a snapshot of just a few items of 2024's OER-related news from across Africa.

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Driving Student Engagement Using Open Educational Resources

08 December 2024

In a world filled with competing distractions, apps, and social media, students' attention is constantly being pulled in different directions. The adaptability and flexibility of Open Educational Resources allow educators to create engaging lessons. Encouraging students to use and modify these resources can enhance their knowledge retention and encourage social interactions among the peers.

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Current focus

Developing professional competences and skills

OER Africa has developed, and continues to test, innovative alternative approaches to continuing professional development (CPD) for academics. One strategy has been to develop Open Education Tutorials for university academic staff that will empower them to embrace open education.

The South African Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching (Adv Dip TVT) is the product of an initiative of the South African National Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in association with the University of Free State and Saide who was responsible for the design and the development of the course Modules.

Primary place to find African-produced OER courseware in several thematic areas, including: Continuous Professional Development OER for Academics, Academic Librarians, and Senior Management; Agriculture OER; Foundation OER; and Health OER.

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Resources

Featured resource

Guidelines on the Implementation of the OER Recommendation

Following the adoption of the OER Recommendation in 2019, UNESCO initiated a programme to support governments and educational institutions in implementing it. One aspect of this programme was the development of a series of five guidelines to inform implementation of each Action Area in the Recommendation.

About OER Africa

OER Africa is an initiative of Saide, established in 2008 with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, to collaborate with higher education institutions in Africa in the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER), to enhance teaching and learning.

Our Mission