In the 21st century, the widespread use of information technologies has made access to technology, technology usage skills, and the quality of technology services increasingly important. However, the digital divide--defined as a lack of access to telecommunications--remains a significant issue that separates developed countries from developing…

The economic significance of open research data is widely acknowledged, yet its quantification remains challenging. This paper presents an effective valuation instrument to help stakeholders understand and evaluate the economic benefits of open research data. By conducting a scoping review and prioritizing user engagement, this study introduces a…

The purpose of this article is to present the challenges faced in implementing open and online learning by the recently established Open University of Nepal (NOU), which has been offering limited courses in graduate study, all blended since 2018. University leaders, faculty members, technical staff, and students at Nepal Open University…

This paper explores how school community collaboration is given meaning by municipally employed coordinators whose task is to organise collaboration between schools and other actors in urban areas in Sweden. Inspired by Carol Bacchi's theorisation of the constitutive aspect of discerning problems, it examines how coordinators give meaning to the…

While technological change in organizations is fast and eminent to most people, the adoption of Massive Open Online Courses, micro-credentials, and flexible and scalable online courses, appear to be comparatively slow in Higher Education in the Nordic countries. To explore this phenomenon, we completed 10 qualitative interviews at ten different…

Purpose: This paper presents the features and relevance of open distance learning in the context of the socio-economic conditions of people living in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) in India. Although the primary purpose of the present study was to ascertain the effectiveness of the learner support services (LSSs) and different…

There are too few teachers and schools to meet the need for quality universal basic education. Therefore, alternative approaches to education provision need to be explored, such as open and distance learning methods and development and provision of curriculum-based Open Educational Resources (OER). However, distribution of printed materials is…

The last three decades have witnessed an exponential growth of the Church in South Asia. Regions that have been formerly closed to the gospel, are beginning to witness an unprecedented harvest. However, South Asia continues to present a daunting challenge to proclaim the uniqueness of Christ within its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and…

Africanisation of the curriculum has been proposed as an urgent and transformative imperative in South African education. Africanisation of the curriculum involves incorporating African perspectives, histories, cultures, and knowledge systems into the educational curriculum. It aims to recognise and value the contributions of African societies and…

Purpose: The challenges facing 21st-century society are becoming increasingly complex, requiring the development of new citizen competencies. This study aims to validate an educational model focused on developing complex thinking in higher education students. Current educational models lack future-ready competencies, necessitating the emergence of…

The terms 'open' and 'distance' are no longer helpful for advancing approaches to education traditionally served by open institutions. A proposal to reframe the terms 'open' and 'distance' is made: 'open', it is suggested, needs to be linked more explicitly to education that is increasingly available, inclusive, scalable, and sustainable.…

This pioneering study investigates the transformative shift in the nature of education during the Neolithic revolution, utilising Göbekli Tepe's role as an archaic open school that attested to this change. This exploration is underpinned by the premise that "if education is a process of acculturation, its origins must be sought in the…

This article suggests to reflect on the philosophical foundations of Open Education. It reaches out to Bergson's and Popper's respective understandings of Open Society; ontology of immanence, not-yetness; and post-inquiry. It invites to revisit "ethos," "eidos" and "praxis" in Open Education to move away from a…

Student perceptions of open education, both open educational resources (OER) and open pedagogy, are typically reported as positive in research studies. However, there is a need for controlled research to better understand the specific effects of open education. Furthermore, it is not understood how faculty gender, often noted to be influential in…

In recent years, the proliferation of online and distance education has dramatically changed the landscape of education. With the growing demand for flexible and accessible learning opportunities, learners are increasingly turning to online and distance education programs to pursue their academic, personal, and professional goals. However, this…