Let's build a better world! OE4BW 2025 call out

[wernerio]

Dear OEGlobal colleagues and fellows, best regards and hoping you had a happy Christmas. Best and open wishes for 2025.

Let me bring your attention for a new call for the yearly cycle of 2025 of the Open Education for a Better World OE4BW. The OE4BW program is a mentoring program where Open Education practitioners (developers) that want to contribute to a better world through addressing the Sustainable Development Goals are matched with the guidance of internationally recognized mentors.

Many wonderful projects have been developed with many open outputs such as courses, textbooks, tool kits, mobile apps, among others. Please browse projects here.

You can find the application links:

• Call for developers
• Call for mentors

Deadline to apply: 10 January 2025

Please feel free to share and promote widely within your networks, thanks in advanced. All the best!!

[cogdog]

Werner, muchas gracias y cálidos deseos para el nuevo año.

This is a fine gift for the new year that is worth clicking links to learn more. In fact I can see in your message that a few people have clicked the links to learn more about OE4BW (isn’t that a nice feature here in OEG Connect?).

It would be helpful here if those in this community who have participated in OE4BW can add some encouragement by sharing their experiences. I spotted recently a post by @AnjuGandhi sharing her recent OE4BW project on AI Artistry: Mastering Tools for Content Creators . And I could tag @GinoFransman who completed an OE4BW project on Becoming an Open Education Influencer.

I am sure there are many more OE4BW “graduates” here as well as ones who have served as mentors.

Please chime in your OE4BW experiences, as it might encourage more here to apply (cough cough, I am considering it myself). Or if you have questions about doing this kind of work, this is the ideal place to ask.

[wernerio]

Dear Alan, receive a big hug!!! All the best for a great 2025 for you and your close ones.

Thank you for your support on this new OE4BW cycle calls. Indeed, after 7 year of progress, there are many projects developed, some even ongoing. Everybody super invited to check out projects within their interests.

We are indeed looking to highlight the OE4BW experience showcasing best practices to stimulate participation, we will have soon success stories to share. But let me start with a testimony from Dr. Ajita Deshmukh, from MIT-ADT University based in Pune, India:

As someone who started as a developer in the OE4BW program and has now grown to serve as a Hub Coordinator, I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative impact this initiative has in India. OE4BW not only provides a platform for creating open educational resources but also fosters an ecosystem of collaboration, growth, and recognition.

I am a firm believer and supporter of “no barriers in education” and this program completely aligned with my personal philosophy. Additionally, as a person wanting to try new, interdisciplinary and credible things, beyond the boundaries of the formal education system, this program was a heaven!

The dedicated handholding provided by mentors and Hub Coordinators, the guidance offered at every step—right from conceptualizing ideas to implementing and refining projects—ensures that even first-time developers feel supported and confident. This mentorship bridges the gap between aspiration and execution, empowering educators to create resources that are both impactful and contextually relevant.

Another factor driving OE4BW’s appeal in India is the institutional recognition developers receive. Institutions increasingly value these contributions as evidence of faculty innovation and commitment to quality education, leading to enhanced professional growth for developers. This recognition motivates educators to engage with OE4BW, knowing their work is not only contributing to open education but also advancing their careers.

The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes open educational resources, digital content, and skill development, aligning seamlessly with OE4BW’s goals. The focus on online and blended learning, coupled with sustainable and inclusive education, has created fertile ground for such initiatives to thrive.

As a Hub Coordinator, it’s inspiring to witness Indian educators tackle critical local challenges, from language accessibility to skill development, through their projects. The combination of mentorship, institutional recognition, and supportive policies makes OE4BW a highly sought-after program in India.

OE4BW has also catalyzed my own growth, enabling me to contribute to a global vision for equitable education. I am proud to be part of a program that impacts individuals, institutions, and national educational priorities so meaningfully.

[cogdog]

Hello Werner on this bright side of 2025. Thanks for sharing the testimony from @AjitaD who has been a very active participant in the OEGlobal community here. We published an OEG World story on her Once Upon an Online Time creative OER on Cybersecurity.

Again, we hope more participants in OE4BW, both as developers and mentors can vocalize here some personal stories of their experience, and perhaps encourage others to consider your shared links for the 2025 open call for developers and for mentors.

Is that a role you have played, Werner? a Mentor? Maybe you can encourage others or maybe me to sign up

[wernerio]

Hello Alan, best regards and sure to follow your steps on 2025!!

I’ve been playing the role of Hub Coordinator, a facilitator between developers/mentors and the OE4BW core team’s guidelines and year-based framework.

But I am hoping to come back to be a mentor as I am trying to spark interest in my home country around the excellent work of the Open University of Recoleta, a local government based lifelong learning institution.

In Chile, as well as Latin America in general, we are always lagging behind in Open Education. What I would like to happen is that OE4BW could spark participation as it does in India!! If you want to know why OE4BW is successful in India, please read: OE4BW in India: Why the hype?

Want to know more about OE4BW? Check out promotional video:

Thanks for all your support Alan!!

[cogdog]

I would not use the word “hype” for the impact of OE4BW in India, nor would I say Chile is lagging after visiting the Open University of Recoleta and noting the CREA Collabratory.

Perhaps with help from @marcela can work towards having a connection between OEGlobal’s OELATAM and the alliances listed at the Open University of Recoleta (if not there already?). Can you help instigate some activity and participation with the Open University for the 2025 Open Education Week?

I feel a good positive energy for what we might do in 2025.

[wernerio]

Thanks for your hype Alan!! (just provoking you, I would not use that term for you either!!). You are indispensable.

Yes, it is worth highlighting the work from this “glocal” UAR and super open to further connections. @marcela may recall in the OER Regional Consultation back in October, I mentioned and featured their work, she presenting before me. You bet we will be participating in OpenEd week, so attentive for any opportunities of connection (podcast maybe?). At your disposal!!

[mkishoremkr]

Thank you for this opportunity.
The Open Education for a Better World (OE4BW) 2025 program offers a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about education and sustainable development to make a meaningful impact. Participants will benefit from collaborating with a global network of like-minded individuals and experts, gaining invaluable mentorship to develop high-quality Open Educational Resources (OERs) that address real-world challenges aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through this program, participants enhance their skills in open education, innovation, and project development while contributing to transformative solutions that empower communities worldwide. Joining OE4BW is not just about creating resources—it’s about driving change and building a better, more sustainable future through education.