Athabasca University (AU) is Canada’s Open University. It has 43,300 students.
AU offers open and flexible distance learning. It is the only public university in Canada that’s fully digital by design; all the programs and courses are created specifically for online spaces.
The UNESCO/ICDE Chair in Open Educational Resources
The UNESCO/ICDE Chair in Open Educational Resources at Athabasca University is dedicated to advancing open education worldwide. As a leader in the field, the Chair promotes the development, adoption, and use of Open Educational Resources (OER) to ensure equitable access to quality learning for all.
Through research, collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives, the Chair supports sustainable and inclusive educational practices, aligning with UNESCO’s mission to foster lifelong learning and global knowledge sharing.
Rory McGreal
Rory McGreal is a notable scholar in the field of education, particularly known for his work in open education, e-learning, and distance education. He has been a leading figure in the development and promotion of open educational resources (OER) and the use of digital technologies to enhance learning.
McGreal is a professor and researcher at Athabasca University, Canada, and has been involved in various projects related to the integration of technology in education. He has published extensively on topics related to open access to education, online learning platforms, and the implementation of open educational resources in higher education.
He is also recognized for his leadership in organizations promoting the use of OER, such as the International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning (IRRODL), where he has served as an editor. Additionally, he has contributed to global initiatives advocating for free and accessible educational resources for learners worldwide.
Through his work, McGreal has helped shape the academic landscape, particularly in the context of digital learning and the democratization of education through open resources.
