Figure 1
Benefits of OER. Source: Authors.
Figure 2
Challenges related to the systematization of OER. Source: Authors.
Figure 3
Key characteristics of digital public goods. Source: Authors.
Figure 4
Examples of digital public goods. Source: Authors.
Figure 5
Key principles of sustainable environmental approaches. Source: Authors.
Figure 6
Benefits of sustainable environmental approaches. Source: Authors.
Figure 7
Key objectives of green computing. Source: Authors.
Figure 8
Examples of green computing. Source: Authors.
Table 1
Similarities and differences between the 2019 OER Recommendation on sustainability models and the 2024 Dubai Declaration on sustainability models for OER (Burgos 2025).
| 2019 OER RECOMMENDATION ON SUSTAINABILITY MODELS FOR OER (PARIS) (UNESCO 2019) | 2024 DUBAI DECLARATION ON OER (DUBAI) (UNESCO 2024) |
|---|---|
| Examining existing provisions, procurement rules, and policies to streamline the process of acquiring goods and services in support of OER initiatives, and, when relevant, enhancing the ability of OER stakeholders to engage effectively in these procedures. | Promoting strategies that guarantee interoperability, protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), and the sustainable development of OER, all rooted in the ROAM-X human rights principles, openness, accessibility, inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement, and attention to cross-cutting issues, especially gender equity. |
| Making sure that the financial cost of educational materials does not fall on learners and educators, while also promoting alternative funding approaches (such as resource-sharing based on reciprocity, partnerships, and networks) as well as generating income through donations, membership programs, and crowdfunding efforts. | Encouraging environmentally sustainable practices, like green computing, in the creation and implementation of digital public goods, aiming to lower energy use and cut down on carbon emissions, while also acknowledging situations where the use of AI tools may be unnecessary or unsuitable. |
| Encouraging and increasing awareness of collaborative OER models that emphasize active participation, joint creation, shared value generation, community-driven partnerships, fostering innovation, and uniting individuals around a shared purpose. | Encouraging participatory governance, open transparency, public accountability, and routine audits across the entire OER ecosystem, including its technological, legal, and educational components, to foster trust among all stakeholders. |
| Implementing regulatory frameworks that encourage the creation of OER materials and related services, ensuring they comply with both national and international standards, as well as the interests and values of OER stakeholders. | Encouraging the growth of open ecosystems that emphasize the creation of digital public goods and open-source solutions, particularly within knowledge management platforms and funding structures. This involves strengthening public infrastructure, promoting collaboration between public and private sectors, and backing innovative private efforts in OER that leverage emerging technologies such as AI while aligning with the core values of digital public goods and strong commitments to openness. |
| Creating and refining existing evidence-based standards, benchmarks, and related criteria for OER, with a strong focus on evaluating the quality of both openly licensed and traditionally copyrighted educational resources. |
Figure 9
Methodology used in this work to integrate and interpret the results. Source: Authors.
Figure 10
Instructions and workspace for the Activity Collaborative Digital Space for Reflection. Source: Authors.
Figure 11
Left: Pre-intervention distribution of Likert scale responses for four survey questions, represented as a stacked bar chart. Right: Pre-intervention corresponding weighted average Likert scores visualized in a vertical line chart. Question 1: How well do you understand the concept of sustainable environmental approaches in the context of digital public goods? Question 2: How familiar are you with the ROAM-X principles applied to the development of OER? Question 3: How familiar are you with green computing practices in digital public goods? Question 4: How well do you understand interoperability and intellectual property rights in sustainable OER models? Source: authors.
Figure 12
Left: Post-intervention distribution of Likert scale responses for four survey questions, represented as a stacked bar chart. Right: Post-intervention corresponding weighted average Likert scores visualized in a vertical line chart. Question 1: How well do you understand the concept of sustainable environmental approaches in the context of digital public goods? Question 2: How familiar are you with the ROAM-X principles applied to the development of OER? Question 3: How familiar are you with green computing practices in digital public goods? Question 4: How well do you understand interoperability and intellectual property rights in sustainable OER models? Source: authors.