Statement by the OpenEd25 Board of Directors
The Open Education Conference Board of Directors acknowledges the profound impact of the current political and policy environment in the United States on participants in this year’s conference, which will be held as a hybrid event on October 28-30 in Denver, Colorado and online. We recognize that funding and visa restrictions may prevent some attendees from traveling both to and within the United States. We also recognize that limitations due to trade policy and subject matter may affect virtual registration in some regions.
In keeping with this year’s theme, “Eyes on the Horizon,” the Board of Directors would like to underscore our commitment to the mission laid out in the conference’s Strategic Vision, which is to provide a welcoming space for members of the broader open education community to convene annually. As the political environment changes day-by-day, our ability to connect, share, and learn from each other for the benefit of all grows more important than ever.
To support meaningful participation for all attendees, we are taking deliberate steps to make sure the conference remains as accessible as possible. These include:
Redoubling our efforts to make this year’s hybrid experience meaningful and inclusive of all attendees, regardless of whether they join in person in Denver or online from anywhere in the world
Accelerating our timeline for opening registration and hotel bookings, so that participants have the option to use available funding as soon as possible
Increasing the number of virtual scholarships available to those who face financial or policy barriers to purchasing registration, which will become available for application as soon as registration opens
Monitoring the political environment closely and approaching decisions related to the format and potential location of next year’s conference (OpenEd26) with careful consideration
As circumstances continue to unfold, we will remain in active conversation with the community to learn more about how participants are being affected and how to best support participation in this year’s event. If you are facing barriers to attendance or have ideas on how we can make this conference more accessible, inclusive, and proactive in addressing these challenges, we want to hear from you. Please share your insights through this Anonymous Form so that we may find and implement additional solutions together.
