Glenda Cox elected to Open Education Global Board of Directors

Associate Professor Glenda Cox has been elected to the Board of Directors of Open Education Global (OEG), an international members-based, non-profit organisation that supports the development and use of open education. The appointment is testament to her long-standing dedication to the field of open education and is a proud moment for the University of Cape Town (UCT), further solidifying its reputation as a leader in open education in South Africa and around the world.

A leading scholar in and an advocate for the integration of open educational practices in higher education, Associate Professor Cox currently holds the UCT UNESCO Chair in Open Education and Social Justice. Her current work is focused on open education as a means to advance equity and inclusion in higher education.

Based in the Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) at UCT, Cox’s research and advocacy work emphasise the importance of making educational resources freely available and accessible to all, particularly in regions where access to affordable, quality education remains a challenge. Her work also provides a platform for facilitating high-level stakeholder engagement in inter-institutional, national and international forums focused on openness and addressing social injustice in higher education.

“Open education has the power to transform learning experiences across the globe and I’m excited to contribute to this vision at a global level.”

Reflecting on her appointment to the OEG Board of Directors, Cox said: “Being part of this board is an incredible opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals who are passionate about creating inclusive and accessible educational environments. I believe that open education has the power to transform learning experiences across the globe and I’m excited to contribute to this vision at a global level.”

She added: “UCT has always been committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation in education. My role as a UNESCO Chair has allowed me to explore the intersections between open education and social justice and I’m eager to bring these perspectives to the international discussions on how we can make education more equitable for all.”

Enhancing UCT’s global impact

Cox’s election to the OEG Board of Directors serves to elevate the university’s influence in global discussions on education, equity and innovation, and resource-sharing. This recognition by the international open education community arises out of more than 15 years of supporting open education at UCT by Cox and her UCT colleagues. It is also a powerful endorsement of the collaborative efforts between CILT and the broader academic community in promoting open education and social justice.