About the Event

The programme will combine keynote addresses, sectoral case studies, short “gasta” talks, and panel discussions and workshops designed to share experience and explore practical next steps. Contributions will include perspectives from open education practitioners and scholars working across Irish and international higher education contexts.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Robin DeRosa, Executive Director of the Open Education Network (OEN). Robin brings three decades of experience in higher education as a teaching and learning leader and academic library director, and has worked extensively with institutions and governments on initiatives to make higher education more affordable, equitable, and sustainable through open approaches.

A second keynote will be delivered by Dr Catherine Cronin, independent open scholar. Catherine’s work focuses on critical and social justice approaches to digital and open education, and she has contributed extensively to research, policy, and practice in Ireland and internationally.

Policy perspectives from Ireland’s higher education system will be provided by Tim Conlon, Head of Policy and Strategic Planning at the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The programme will also include an interactive workshop facilitated by Prof Lawrie Phipps (Jisc, UK) and Prof Peter Bryant (University of Sydney), exploring how open approaches can reshape teaching, learning, and institutional culture while addressing issues of equity, access, and social justice.

The conference will be chaired by Dr Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin (Head of Technology Enhanced Learning, Munster Technological University) and will take place in person at the Bishopstown campus of Munster Technological University in Cork on 20 May. It offers an opportunity for colleagues across the sector to exchange ideas, share practice, and contribute to the ongoing development of open education in Ireland.

Audience

The event is intended for academic and professional staff, educational developers, librarians, learning technologists, and policy leads with an interest in teaching and learning, open education, open access, accessibility, digital learning , and open pedagogy.

Policy Context

This event is framed in response to the HEA Strategy for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which identifies open education as a strategic enabler of collaboration, innovation, and inclusive access across the sector.

The Strategy places particular emphasis on strengthening collaboration, sustaining and expanding the National Resource Hub, and supporting the development of institutional open education policies and practices. This event offers an opportunity for institutions to engage with these priorities, to reflect on progress to date, share practice, and contribute to the ongoing development of open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices (OEP) across the sector.