Open Education Conference, OER26
2026-06-22 08:00 - 2026-06-23 17:00 (Europe/London) | The Open University, Walton Hall, ,, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom
Open education has always been both a practice and a proposition. It is grounded in commitments to access, equity, collaboration, and the sharing of knowledge as a public good. Over decades, these commitments have taken institutional form through open educational resources, open practices, open pedagogy, open research, open access publishing, and global networks of collaboration. Openness has shaped learning systems, expanded participation, and redefined what education can be.

OER26 invites delegates to reimagine and re-theorise openness while recognising the enduring ethos that has sustained the movement from its earliest days.

Hosted by the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University (UK), widely recognised as one of the foundational institutions in the modern open education movement, this event offers a distinctive space for reflection and renewal. Established in 1969 with a radical commitment to widening participation and removing barriers to higher education, The Open University has long embodied the principle that education should be open to people, places, methods, and ideas. Its history reminds us that openness represents and constitutes an ongoing, transformative ethical and social commitment. Bringing the conference to this setting underscores both continuity and change: continuity in the enduring values of openness, and change in the technological, political, and institutional environments in which those values are enacted.

OER26 will foster dialogue across disciplines and regions, welcoming diverse interpretations of what openness means and what it might become. Our call for proposals welcomes contributions that explore how the ethos of openness is sustained, challenged, institutionalised, or transformed in the current moment.

Co-Chairs

Dr Rob Farrow and Dr Beck Pitt, from the Institute of Educational Technology at The Open University, serve as co‑directors of the Global OER Graduate Network (GO‑GN). Their longstanding commitment to open education research, community building, and global collaboration brings a distinctive perspective to this year’s conference, ensuring a programme that is both inclusive and forward‑looking.

Programme

The OER26 programme is now live. This year’s event is shaping up to be one of the most inspiring gatherings in open education. Taking place 22–23 June 2026 at The Open University in Milton Keynes. This year’s event brings together a global community to explore the programme theme, “Openness Reimagined: Continuity, Change and Shared Vision”.

This year’s programme includes contributions across six thematic clusters:

Openness as a project of social transformation

Reimagining openness: theory, technology, and futures

Openness as justice

Open practices and pedagogical innovation

Openness as care

Open Minds (Wild Card)

Across the two days, participants will find a rich mix of workshops, research papers, practice sessions, panels, lightning talks, and experimental formats, offering multiple ways to learn, share, and connect.

Keynote Speakers

This year’s keynote speakers are two leading voices in open and digital education:

Prof. Eileen Scanlon will examine how openness continues to shape educational innovation and how it can empower learners, educators, and researchers alike.

Prof. Dr. Olaf Zawacki‐Richter will explore OER, sustainability, and the role of AI in open, distance, and digital education

Programme Highlights

Alongside the main sessions, we are also planning a series of activities that celebrate the past, present, and future of openness.

Celebrating 20 years of OpenLearn

Pre and post conference visits to the National Museum of Computing and Bletchley Park – register an interest here

A guided tour of the cutting edge XR Studios

Panels exploring the history and development of OER and openness

A celebration marking 30 years of the Journal of Interactive Media in Education

Research funding workshops to support new and emerging open education projects

Register for OER26

Ready to join us at OER26? Secure your spot today and be part of a vibrant, community-driven event that reimagines openness for the future.

Explore the full programme and register now through the OER26 registration page.

Register

Inclusion – Responding Effectively to Ofsted’s Expectations
2026-06-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
The recent introduction of Ofsted’s revised inspection framework has firmly shone the spotlight of inspection onto Inclusion. Although Inclusion has always been considered in an inspection, it was embedded within other aspects of provision; recruitment, participation, equality, diversity or achievement.
Inclusion isn’t about any one single initiative – inspectors want to see how well training providers develop an inclusive culture, how leadership support inclusive education and how learner needs are identified and responded to.
This session aims to develop a providers understanding of Ofsted’s expectations around inclusion and to build confidence in applying inclusive practices across curriculum, teaching, support and leadership.
As part of this session, we will consider:
The expectations of Ofsted

What they expect to see
What they have reported so far
What makes an exceptional judgement?

Strategies for structure and support

A culture of inclusion
Practice and policy
Mechanisms for review
Measuring and understanding impact

Identifying and recording learner vulnerabilities

What makes a learner vulnerable?
What does your data tell you?
What are your patterns of attendance?

Understanding Apprenticeship Financial Management
2026-06-24 10:00 - 2026-07-01 12:00 | Online
Apprenticeship financial management is complex.
Do you, and your organisation, know whether your provision is modelled effectively and profitable? Do you meet the compliance obligations for pricing and costs?
Getting your apprenticeship pricing right is essential for DfE compliance but perhaps more importantly for operating a financially sound apprenticeship programme. This three part webinar series is designed for role holders working in finance or operations to understand the funding methodology in apprenticeships, the compliance obligations and benefits of effective implementation.
For example:

How do you measure whether a new apprenticeship standard is financially viable for you to deliver?
Are you clear on what the apprenticeship actually costs you to deliver and where a profit margin can be made?
Can you forecast revenue effectively and identify profitability?
Are you clear on what are eligible and ineligible costs and that you aren’t overclaiming or underclaiming funding?
Are you reporting your training price breakdown correctly to the employer?
How do you recognise the apprentice’s prior learning and reflect this in your costings?
Are you applying the correct training price for your own employees (which must be at cost price)?

Session 1 Wednesday 24 June 10am-12pm – The funding model in England and funded components
Session 2 Thursday 25 June 10am-12pm – Apprenticeship costs and pricing
Session 3 Wednesday 1 July 10am-12pm – Necessary infrastructure and variables

In the webinar series, we’ll help you to understand:

the apprenticeship funding model in England
understand price components of training and assessment
eligible and ineligible costs, how to identify these at a budget level and implement an effective offer to an employer
cost models and options
the importance of effective contracts with employers
the role of employer co-investment and models of collection to ensure compliance
Additional funding components: additional payments and learning support
the impact of prior learning on cost models
Employer-provider variables

You will receive an attendance certificate after the series, as evidence of your personal development.
Booking
You can either attend the live sessions or be sent the recording and materials if you prefer to review them in your own time.
If you’re a public sector body (e.g. Local Authority), and unable to book via card, please email us. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice).
SDN CPD is designed for Government funded Training Providers. If you’re not a Government funded Training Provider but are still interested in attending please email events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk to discuss your attendance in more detail before booking.
If you have several staff who would benefit, let us know and we’ll send you details of the most cost-effective way of accessing the session.
Unable to make date / times? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording and materials.
Who is this in-depth webinar for?
This series is for anyone involved in the development of apprenticeship budgeting and financial operations. This could, for example, include finance staff, compliance staff, employer-facing staff, business development teams, commercial leads, senior managers / decision-makers.
Note: This programme is a 26/27 update to our previously delivered series on understanding apprenticeship costings.
Facilitators and speakers
The session will be facilitated by David Lockhart-Hawkins, SDN’s funding and compliance specialist will facilitate this series. After working in the sector for over 25 years, David has supported hundreds of providers to establish effective compliance systems. His in-depth understanding of funding and wider apprenticeship delivery gives him a unique insight into compliance across the organisation.
Why an SDN webinar?
SDN has directly supported 11,500 apprenticeship staff, from 2,000 organisations, to prepare to deliver apprenticeship standards and end-point assessment. We’ve also worked closely with over 80 of the trailblazer employer groups, giving us a unique insight into what is required.
Payment
To keep prices down, payment for this event must be made online via credit card (book below). If you are a public sector body (e.g. Local Authority) who is unable to book via card, please email us on: events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk.
Terms and Conditions
The Terms and Conditions (including our refund policy) for SDN courses, events and webinars can be found here. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
Any questions, please email: events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk.

Effective Apprenticeship Progress Reviews
2026-07-07 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
The essential requirements for an apprenticeship, at any level, include the need for high quality Progress Reviews. Not only are they a contractual requirement, but Progress Reviews also support the effective measurement of progress through the curriculum.
This event will help providers, especially those responsible for curriculum quality/quality of education to understand what is required and why.
Clear links between the importance of measuring apprentices progress and the
requirements of Ofsted and the DfE are explored and explained, helping you to focus on delivering high quality education.
Key Outcomes Of The Day
At this important workshop delegates will explore and discuss:

What is ‘Progress’?
What is the purpose of a Progress Review?
What does an effective Progress Review look like?
What to consider when evaluating the effectiveness of Progress Reviews
How the the inspection framework and Quality of Education link to effective Progress Reviews
Understanding the link between apprentices starting points and recognising progress.
Using Progress Reviews to support apprentices progress, using effective target setting

Preparing for an Ofsted Inspection (new framework)
2026-07-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Online
This seminar will have new content which focuses on the revised expectations of Providers arising out of the implementation of Ofsted’s new inspection framework.

New style inspections commenced at the beginning of November, incorporating report cards and a revised grading structure.

The guidance given in the seminar will be inciteful and reflects both inspector training and involvement in inspections.

Embedding Effective Assessment in Apprenticeships
2026-07-15 14:00 - 2026-07-22 16:00 | Online
Get ahead of the changes – build assessment practice that works for learners, employers and your team
About this session
The way assessment is used in apprenticeships is shifting. With more focus on on-programme and pre-Gateway assessment, providers need to make sure their approach is fit for purpose. This series will help you build assessment into the apprenticeship journey from the very start – making it meaningful, manageable and linked to real workplace performance.
We’ll cover:

Practical ways to design and apply assessment methods that work across different standards
How to build assessment into delivery – from day one through to Gateway
Making assessments reflect the behaviours, skills and knowledge needed in the job
Involving employers so they can play an active role
Simple tools to plan, record and review assessments.

You will receive an attendance certificate after the series, as evidence of your personal development.
Series breakdown:
1. Planning effective assessment
Wednesday 15 July (2-4pm)
2. Assessment Design & Methods
Wednesday 22 July (2-4pm)
You can book onto the webinar series for £150 (+VAT). This includes the live webinars (with Q&A), the webinar recordings, and supporting resources.
Unable to make date / times? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording and materials.
Facilitators and speakers
The session will be facilitated by Chris Cherry an SDN Mesma Group specialist in apprenticeship on-programme training and end-point assessment. Chris has supported hundreds of apprenticeship organisations to develop their curriculum against the new standards and has lots of insights to share.
Who should attend?

Managers, trainers, assessors and quality leads who want to improve assessment practice
Anyone involved in curriculum design or progress reviews
Employer engagement staff looking to play a role in assessment.

Booking information
If you have several staff who would benefit, let us know and we’ll send you details of the most cost-effective way of accessing the session.
If you’re a public sector body (e.g. Local Authority), and unable to book via card, please email us. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
Any questions, please email us.
SDN CPD is designed for Government funded Training Providers. If you’re not a Government funded Training Provider but are still interested in attending please email events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk to discuss your attendance in more detail before booking.
Terms and Conditions
The Terms and Conditions (including our refund policy) for SDN events and webinars can be found here. When you make a booking, you agree to these Terms and Conditions (including those who request a booking via email and invoice)
Any questions, please email the SDN events team: events@strategicdevelopmentnetwork.co.uk

Level 3 Award in Education and Training (Fast-track)
2026-08-17 10:00 - 2026-08-20 16:00 | Online
As part of the Solvendis Teaching Excellence programme we are pleased to be able to offer an effective response to the need to develop the teaching and training skills of staff working in Post-16 education.
This intensive programme is designed for:

new or existing trainers with hands-on vocational expertise who are seriously looking to develop their teaching and training skills. This could include those recently moved into a training role from assessor role
staff new to the roles of trainer and assessor.

The programme will focus on those aspects of training so essential in ensuring sound learning – and, of course, meeting the requirements of the Education Inspection Framework. Participants will benefit from a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the education and training sector. They will develop their teaching and training skills through a clear understanding of inclusive teaching and learning, and be able to plan, deliver and evaluate learning which meets the needs of all learners in a safe and supportive learning environment.
Finally, participants will gain a detailed understanding of the different types and methods of assessment.
To complete the programme, participants will be required to attend four workshop days, which will include learner-led microteach, as well as completing some pre-course work and assignments. Assessment will be via portfolio, assignment and observation.
Although there are no minimum entry requirements for this course, participants should be able to demonstrate the minimum core levels of literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills expected of all teachers and trainers in the sector. At the end of the programme, successful participants will be awarded the Level 3 Award
Delivered online, delegates need to attend on 17, 18, 24 & 25 July 2025 (10.00 – 4.00 each day).

Apprenticeship compliance for your role
2026-08-18 14:00 - 2026-08-27 16:00 | Online
Everyone involved in apprenticeship delivery should understand the fundamentals of apprenticeship compliance.

Whether you’re involved in training, curriculum design, quality assurance, employer engagement or administration – understanding what ESFA compliance means for your role is crucial in helping the organisation to draw down the right funding and mitigate risks.
Designed around the latest version of the funding rules, this three-part series is designed to introduce all apprenticeship staff to the core apprenticeship rules and where their role fits in the compliance journey.
Part 1 will look at the typical apprentice journey, the core rules that matter and common solutions seen, including the importance of the little details and core parts of the evidence pack.
Part 2 will look at common errors and build an understanding of risk awareness as part of a transparent compliance culture.
Part 3 will open the floor to core questions and discussions of best practice.
You will receive an attendance certificate after the series, as evidence of your personal development.

This series will help you to:

Understand the core compliance rules for Apprenticeships
Understand how they fit into the typical apprentice journey
Know how funding works and what this means for your role
Keep an eye out for common errors
How to mitigate funding risks

About your session

David Lockhart-Hawkins, SDN Mesma Group’s funding and compliance specialist will facilitate these sessions.

After working in the sector for over 25 years, David has supported hundreds of providers to establish effective compliance systems. His in-depth understanding of funding and wider apprenticeship delivery gives him a unique insight into compliance across the organisation.
SDN Mesma Group’s CPD is drawn from its work with over 2,000 FE & skills providers and 11,500 staff – giving you a unique insights into practices that can drive the quality of your provision. Our sessions are also intensely practical – equipping you with the knowledge and resources to act and make improvements in your role and organisation.

Perfect for new starts across all departments as well as those requiring a refresher, this is designed for all staff involved in administrating or delivering apprenticeships so they can develop a healthy understanding of compliance and how it relates to their job role.

Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
2026-10-06 10:00 - 2026-10-13 13:00 | Online
This Level 3 accredited qualification is designed to develop delegates practical assessing skills helping them to become effective assessors in a range of Post-16 contexts both in the workplace and in the classroom.

We anticipate that delegates will already be working in post-16 education as a teacher/ trainer/assessor or coach. Delegates may have a strong vocational background and will have moved into teaching/ assessing as a secondary career.

Through participation in this important strand of the Solvendis Teaching Excellence programme you will complete three modules to help you develop and craft your assessment skills.

Delivery will be led by an experienced member of the Solvendis Teacher Training Team with all workshops being conducted online via Teams or Zoom.

Workshop Dates and Times: 2 & 9 June 2026 (10.00 – 4.00 online).

Delegate fee £455 (plus vat) plus £78 awarding body registration fee – maximum 12 delegates.

Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement
2026-12-08 10:00 - 2026-12-15 16:00 | Online
This Level 3 accredited qualification is designed to develop delegates practical assessing skills helping them to become effective assessors in a range of Post-16 contexts both in the workplace and in the classroom.
We anticipate that delegates will already be working in post-16 education as a teacher/ trainer/assessor or coach. Delegates may have a strong vocational background and will have moved into teaching/ assessing as a secondary career.
Through participation in this important strand of the Solvendis Teaching Excellence programme you will complete three modules to help you develop and craft your assessment skills.
Delivery will be led by an experienced member of the Solvendis Teacher Training Team with all workshops being conducted online via Teams or Zoom.
Workshop Dates and Times: 26 Feb & 3 March 2026 (10.00 – 4.00 online).
Delegate fee £455 (plus vat) plus £78 awarding body registration fee – maximum 12 delegates.
