Page 114 - MBRF ENGLISH PR REPORT - November 2024

11/25/24, 2:54 PM dayofdubai.com | 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress in Dubai Concludes with Action Plan to Empower Students Worldwide
Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information,
highlighted the transformative potential of OER in addressing global educational challenges.
“Collaboration and leveraging digital tools are essential for enhancing education access,” he stated
during the session on “Leveraging Open Solutions for a Resilient Digital Compact Environment.”

H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, remarked on the significance of hosting the event in Dubai.
“This congress is a testament to our commitment to knowledge dissemination and development. It
strengthens the UAE’s position as a hub for global education and innovation efforts,” he said.

The congress’ sessions explored topics such as:

Harnessing AI and machine learning to improve digital accessibility.

Advancing global cooperation on digital education.

Addressing intellectual property challenges in the context of OER and advanced technologies.

Expanding equitable educational opportunities for underserved communities, including African nations
and small island developing states.

The Dubai Declaration on Open Educational Resources

A key outcome of the congress was the adoption of the “Dubai Declaration on Open Educational
Resources,” which outlines strategies to:

Promote quality and inclusive education.

Develop new workforce capacities through OER.

Implement policies for sustainable digital public resources.

Foster international partnerships for enhancing digital collaboration.

The declaration serves as the foundation for a seven-year strategy aimed at empowering students
globally and bridging educational gaps. Discussions also examined UNESCO’s 2019

recommendations on OER implementation and the progress made in key regions.

Global Collaboration and Local Impact

The congress showcased exemplary initiatives, such as the UNESCO University Twinning Network on
Open Education and the Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s Open Educational Resource
Repository. Participating countries, including Malaysia, Morocco, Cuba, and Madagascar, presented

success stories on integrating open education solutions into national frameworks.

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