OERcamp.global 2025

Open for the Netherlands – It was 20 years ago today
25.11.2025, 18:00–18:45 o'clock (Europe/Berlin), Stage One

This year it is 20 years ago that the first activities to start an OER project in The Netherlands were undertaken. During these 20 years, numerous initiatives have been undertaken to come to the current situation. In my talk, I will focus on two national programs currently being implemented, aiming at advancing adoption of OER from K-12 to universities. Both programs are financed by the Dutch government.

Robert Schuwer is an independent consultant and researcher on OER. From 2014-2022 he was professor Open Educational Resources at Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. In September 2016 he was appointed Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair on OER at Fontys. Since 2006 the majority of his work is about OER and Open Education. His current research is on adoption of OER and other forms of open online education by the early and late majority of teachers.
In 2022, Robert was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from Open Education Global for his contribution to the advancement of open education. In 2020, he was awarded the Dutch SURF Education Award for his passion, leadership and creativity in innovating open education in the Netherlands.