The global movement of open learning is set to reconvene at its roots as MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) prepares to co-host the Open Education Global (OEGlobal) annual conference in 2026. This significant event marks a return to where it all began, as MIT OpenCourseWare previously co-hosted the conference in 2011, then known as the OpenCourseWare Consortium. Over a decade later, MIT, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Open Education Resources (OER) Advisory Council and OEGlobal, will once again welcome the world to Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The OEGlobal 2026 conference carries a powerful theme: inventing a more open and equitable future through Open Learning Global initiatives. MIT’s campus will become a hub for a diverse community encompassing open education practitioners, policymakers, advocates, researchers, students, and key decision-makers from across the globe. Attendees will engage in crucial discussions about the evolving landscape of open education, addressing the latest trends, pressing challenges, and exciting opportunities that lie ahead. The conference serves as a vital platform for sharing perspectives and collaboratively shaping the future direction of open learning on a global scale.
Curt Newton, the Director of MIT OpenCourseWare, extended a warm invitation at the 2024 OEGlobal conference in Brisbane, Australia, where the 2026 hosts were announced. He emphasized the collective spirit of the open education movement, stating, “With the many OER (open educational resources) advocates, practitioners, doers, and thought leaders across our region and around the world, we invite you to gather and reflect as a global community on the campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”
OEGlobal stands as a pivotal member-based, global, non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the advancement and implementation of open education worldwide. The 2026 conference holds special significance, commemorating the 18th anniversary of the consortium and the 25th anniversary of MIT OpenCourseWare, highlighting decades of commitment to open learning global access.
Igor Lesko and Marcela Morales, co-executive directors at Open Education Global, jointly acknowledged MIT’s foundational role in the open education movement. “MIT has played a crucial role in the open education movement for over two decades,” they stated. “MIT OpenCourseWare was the incubator of OEGlobal. Through its open learning initiatives, MIT has reached and positively impacted millions of people worldwide. We are excited to co-organize the 2026 OEGlobal Conference in collaboration with MIT and the Massachusetts OER Advisory Council, as we also celebrate the 25th anniversary of MIT OpenCourseWare.”
OpenCourseWare, a cornerstone of MIT Open Learning, pioneered the open learning global movement in 2001. MIT became the first higher education institution to freely disseminate educational resources to learners globally, irrespective of institutional affiliations. Today, OpenCourseWare boasts an extensive online repository featuring materials from over 2,500 courses, spanning the entirety of MIT’s undergraduate and graduate curriculum. This encompasses syllabi, comprehensive lecture notes, challenging problem sets, engaging assignments, rich audiovisual content, and insightful perspectives. Furthermore, its thriving YouTube channel, with 7,500 videos and 5.5 million subscribers, significantly broadens its reach, catering to visual learners and those who prefer video-based education. MIT OpenCourseWare operates under an open license, encouraging the adaptation and reuse of its educational resources, furthering the principles of open learning global access and collaboration. The platform serves as a powerful catalyst, inspiring millions of curious and motivated learners annually to explore their passions, acquire new skills, and even pursue transformative career changes through open education.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth underscored the institution’s deep-rooted commitment to open learning global initiatives in a video announcing the OEGlobal 2026 conference. “Open is in our DNA,” she affirmed. “We share information, innovations, and ideas with enthusiasm.” This ethos of open sharing is central to MIT’s mission and its contributions to the open learning global community.
The OER Advisory Council champions open education research initiatives within public higher education in Massachusetts. Robert Awkward, Assistant Commissioner for Academic Effectiveness at the OER Advisory Council, expressed the council’s enthusiasm for partnering with MIT and Open Education Global to host OEGlobal 2026. He highlighted the council’s perspective on the transformative potential of open education, stating, “We view open education as an important teaching and learning approach to increase affordability and student learning and success for all students, and especially minoritized students.” This collaboration underscores the shared commitment to making education more accessible and equitable through open learning global resources.
While the open education community has experienced remarkable growth, broadened its perspectives, and achieved life-altering impacts over the past two decades, the journey of innovation is far from over. Newton’s call to action for the 2026 conference is clear: “come invent.” He challenged the community at the 2024 OEGlobal conference, “Our cycles of ideation and invention never quit. While we celebrate what we’ve achieved, we’re not satisfied. There’s so much more to do, more opportunities to unlock, more futures to liberate. We will keep imagining and inventing together, toward a more open and equitable future.” The OEGlobal 2026 conference at MIT promises to be a pivotal moment for the open learning global movement to collectively envision and build this future.
For further details about the conference, please visit the OEGlobal website. To explore open education initiatives at MIT, refer to the OpenCourseWare and Open Learning websites. Information on the Commonwealth’s efforts to expand open educational resources in Massachusetts can be found on the OER Advisory Council website.
