ICDE, International Council for Open and Distance Education

15/04/2026

🌍 Nominations are open for the 2026 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.

This prize honours outstanding contributions to advancing education for girls and women worldwide — and as a UNESCO Consultative Partner, ICDE can nominate candidates from our network.

Two laureates will be awarded US$50,000 each to further their work.

✅ This is an exclusive benefit for ICDE members.

If your project is making a real difference for girls' and women's education, we encourage you to apply.

📅 Submit by: 7 May 2026

🔗 ICDE members — apply here: https://icde.org/publication/get-nominated-for-the-2026-unesco-prize-for-girls-and-womens-education/
🔗 Not yet a member? Join ICDE to access this and other exclusive benefits: https://icde.org/become-a-member/

10/04/2026

What does it truly mean to value Indigenous knowledge in education? 🌿

In this interview, Distinguished Professor Linda Tuhiwai-Smith shares her reflections on decolonising research, listening to communities, and the role of institutions in driving meaningful change.

Highlights from the 30th ICDE World Conference 2025 in Wellington, hosted with Te Kuratini Tūwhera | Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa.

▶️ Watch the interview here: https://vimeo.com/1146758713/e4ae48d3d3?fl=pl&fe=sh

ICDE members can access her full keynote presentation in the Members Area: https://icde.org/members-login/

Not yet a member? Join today to access all member benefits.

07/04/2026

We are pleased to welcome two new institutional members to the ICDE global community. 💡

Westford Limited is a professional training and development company with a strong focus on corporate learning and executive education. With activities spanning Europe and the Middle East, Westford brings valuable expertise in workforce development and lifelong learning to our network.

Based in Malaysia, Veritas University College (VUC) is an award-winning institution recognised for 7 consecutive years as Best Brand in Online Education — delivering affordable, flexible, digitally-focused programmes from pre-university to postgraduate level.

We look forward to collaborating, learning alongside both institutions, and connecting them with ICDE's global network.

Welcome to the ICDE community. 👏

26/03/2026

In 2025, ICDE showed how international collaboration can support progress toward accessible, high-quality digital learning.🌍

Here are four numbers that shaped the year:
500+ delegates at the 30th ICDE World Conference
90+ countries represented across our community
200+ members — our highest total since 2019
150+ individuals mobilised across committees and networks

Behind each number are educators, policymakers and innovators working together to expand access to quality learning worldwide.

Read the full ICDE Annual Report 2025 here: https://icde.org/publication/icde-annual-report-2025/

17/03/2026

Why should your institution train internal educators?

This exclusive ICDE workshop builds real capacity by helping academic staff:

📌 Design and evaluate ODFL courses
📌 Use AI tools with confidence
📌 Integrate open resources effectively
📌 Facilitate lifelong, inclusive learning

Designed for ICDE members, delivered by global experts.

🔗 Want to know more? Tap the link! https://icde.org/train-the-trainers/

10/03/2026

🌿 We're excited to share one of the highlights from the 30th ICDE World Conference 2025, hosted in Wellington!

Dr. Faryal Khan, Programme Specialist leading Transformative Education at the UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and the Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific, delivered a powerful keynote exploring how we can build more inclusive, resilient and future‑ready education systems.

▶️ Watch her full presentation here:
https://vimeo.com/1144337892/0e198f32bb?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

🔑ICDE members will also gain exclusive access to additional conference session recordings and insights.

Not a member yet? This is the perfect moment to join our global community.

09/03/2026

🌱UNESCO's ESD-Net & GEP Webinar: Enhancing Education for Sustainable Development Integration and Quality in Higher Education

Tomorrow, this joint webinar will be exploring practical strategies for integrating sustainable development into higher education.

This session will bring together voices from the ESD-Net and GEP communities, offering a unique opportunity to strengthen collaboration and build momentum around shared sustainability priorities.

🗓 Tuesday, 10.03.2026
🕑 13:30–15:30 CET

🔗Register here to join the conversation:
https://events.zoom.us/ev/Aut4p2CodK4ggZR7FS3flm_oBT6jAjy8Scx6KCOjTVJsxVYMCcUw~AvfuJsklFWg9b6aLKa8q7ENkEEtpoiF1Rq6fm43nps_LZlQjm7LjQa17sA?lmt=1772809966000

ESD-Net & GEP Webinar: Enhancing Education for Sustainable Development Integration and Quality in Higher Education

08/03/2026

This International Women’s Day, under the theme , ICDE celebrates the women across our global network who lead with generosity, courage, and purpose🤝

As ICDE Secretary General Torunn Gjelsvik highlights, leadership is strongest when it creates space for others to grow and contribute.

Across ICDE’s community, women are advancing open and inclusive education by sharing their expertise and leading initiatives that continue to expand access to quality learning opportunities worldwide.

Today, we recognize and celebrate these women whose leadership strengthens collaboration and drives progress across our community🎓🌷

05/03/2026

Quality is stronger when we learn from each other.

Through the new ICDE Quality Committee Consultancy, ICDE members gain access to collective expertise built across regions, systems and contexts.

This service reflects what ICDE stands for:
🌍 Global collaboration
🤝 Shared learning
🎓 Quality education for all

If your institution values working with a global community, ICDE membership connects you to expertise you can trust.

👉 Explore the benefits of being part of the ICDE community: https://icde.org/who-we-are/icde-quality-committee/

03/03/2026

📅 Celebrate Open Education Week with European Distance and E-learning Network - EDEN!

Days 1 and 2 have already set the stage for dialogue on quality assessment, artificial intelligence, and innovation in open education.

With more sessions ahead, the week continues to highlight the importance of collaboration across our community.

🎓 Join the conversation and be a part of the exchange!

📢 Updated programme – one more session added on Thursday!
📅 EDEN Open Education Week (OEW) 2026 – Schedule

🔹 Monday, 2 March 2026 | 12:00–13:30 CET
Assessment Futures: What OU Students Tell Us and How AI Can Help Us Respond
Moderator: Denise Whitelock
Speakers: Simon Cross, Mirjam Hauck, Duygu Bektik

🔹 Tuesday, 3 March 2026 | 13:00–14:30 CET
Challenges micro-credentials bring and solutions QualityLink proposes
Moderator: Estela Daukšienė
Presenters: Colin Tück, Jochen Ehrenreich
Panelists: Airina Volungevičienė, Henri Pirkkalainen

🔹 Wednesday, 4 March 2026 | 17:00–18:30 CET
Open Educational Practices for Critical Digital Competence: Insights from Design and Implementation
Moderator: Carlo De Medio
Speakers: Antonella Poce, Kellian Adams Pletcher, Victoria I. Marín Juarros, Gemma Tur, Maria Carme Peguera-Carré

🔹 Thursday, 5 March 2026 | 10:00–11:30 CET
Strategies and Collaboration for Academic Publishing
Moderator: Dr. Albert Sangra
Speakers: Josep M. Duart; Carmen Díaz; Evelien Renders

🔹 Friday, 6 March 2026 | 13:00–14:30 CET
Digital Preservation and Revitalisation of Endangered Scripts: The Case of the Dongba Script
Moderator: Sandra Kučina Softić
Speakers: Tim Brookes, Philippa Steele, Jade Jue Wang-Szilas

✅ Participation is free
🎓 EDEN will issue open badges to acknowledge and appreciate your participation

👉 Join and network – register here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHuOjigxswNmit7xya0ePcO5sU3sirB2GpKSu9d0EkaYndFA/viewform?usp=preview

🔎 Read more:
https://eden-europe.eu/event/open-education-week-oew-march-2-6-2026-join-and-network/

Mark March 2–6, 2026 in your calendar and celebrate Open Education Week with EDEN DLE!

25/02/2026

UNINETTUNO and Doral College Miami have officially launched the Italia–USA Dual Degree Program in Economics and Business Management and Administration 🇮🇹🇺🇸

The program offers students the opportunity to develop global competencies without the need to relocate abroad — overcoming geographical barriers while expanding access to international education.

As highlighted by Rector Maria Amata Garito, universities today must move beyond being closed institutions and instead function as dynamic global networks that build stable bridges between educational systems.

Read more about the UNINETTUNO Global project: https://global.uninettunouniversity.net/

14/02/2026

Celebrate Open Education for All 🎓🎉

This year, is focused on being a “town square” for the global open education community – a place to connect, share tips and ideas, showcase successful practices, and present open textbooks, materials, and resources.

The OEWeek team will be sharing events from March 2 to 6, but OEWeek is a lot more than one week! You can join or host events and activities anytime between February and April. Host your own Open Education event to inspire others, or join an OEWeek event to learn from top open educators, discover great resources, and join online activities.

Visit https://oeweek.oeglobal.org to …

💡 Organise and share your OEWeek event or activity
💡 Be inspired by others! Attend an event near you or online
💡 On your own? You aren’t! There are many things you can do during OEWeek that will contribute to

Spread the word! https://bit.ly/oeweek26

Add your activity: https://bit.ly/OEWeek26ADD