This post is by GO-GN OER25 Scholarship awardee Brandon Carson (Faculty of Education, Ontario Tech University)
This past June 23–24, 2025, I had the privilege of attending OER25 in London, graciously supported by GO‑GN. The conference was hosted at Resource for London, under the theme “Speaking Truth to Power: Open Education and AI in the Age of Populism.”
This year’s theme pushed us to consider tough questions: What does open education mean when AI enables easy content creation, but often without transparency or accountability? How might open and Creative Commons licensing offer a counter-narrative to dominant AI-driven content norms?
Sessions That Resonated With Me
Although I didn’t present at OER25, I attended several sessions that directly supported my doctoral research, which focuses on how higher education leaders in Ontario perceive Open Educational Practices (OEP). I am also working on a complementary project that examines the current state of OEP across Ontario’s colleges, universities, and Indigenous institutes. I found the sessions exploring the intersection of Open Education and Generative AI especially engaging, as they introduced new ideas and perspectives that I plan to carry forward in my work. Some standout sessions for me included:
- Valuing “Open” in the Policy of Higher Education Institutions (Leo Havemann)
- At the Intersection of Equity, Affordability, AI and Open Education (Krista Lambert & Melanie Meyers)
- Building AI Literacy Through Open Educational Practices (Joy Shoemate & James Glapa‑Grossklag)
- Openness, Values, and Weaving GenAI Through Graduate Education (Constance Blomgren)
- Supporting doctoral researchers in open education: An update from GO‑GN (Beck Pitt, Robert Farrow, Carina Bossu)
- AI as Co‑Agent: A Post‑Phenomenological Exploration (Gelareh Keshavarz)
These discussions sparked critical questions for my work: How can Ontario’s open education efforts anticipate and ethically integrate GenAI in ways that foreground equity, authenticity, and policy alignment?
Community and Reconnection
OER25 offered more than just new ideas. It gave me the chance to meet one of the open education scholars I deeply admire, and reconnect with colleagues who have shaped my journey in this field. Meeting Catherine Cronin in person, after following her scholarship for nearly a decade, was genuinely inspiring. I was also grateful to catch up with Canadian colleagues I hadn’t seen in years, including Jenni Hayman and Joanne Kehoe (fellow higher education folks that worked at eCampusOntario) and Gelareh Keshavarz. From informal hallway conversations to the GO-GN session led by Beck Pitt, Robert Farrow, and Carina Bossu, I was reminded of how vibrant and supportive the open community truly is.
Exploring a New Continent
I haven’t been one to travel much in the past, so having the opportunity to explore London was something I’ll never forget. Outside of the conference, I carved out time to visit some iconic landmarks I’d only seen in photos or on TV. I strolled through Hyde Park, took in the sweeping views from the London Eye, and admired the architectural beauty of Tower Bridge and the historic Tower of London. Seeing and hearing Big Ben up close felt surreal, as did visiting the famed Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station from several Harry Potter movies. These moments of exploration were joyful and added a personal layer of meaning to an already memorable trip.
Final Thoughts and Thanks
The conference reinforced my belief that open education is not only a field of practice but also a global community grounded in values. Returning to Canada, I feel recharged and more focused on my studies and research projects. I extend heartfelt thanks to GO‑GN for allowing me to attend OER25 and for cultivating a space where doctoral researchers feel both challenged and supported. The opportunity to connect, exchange ideas, hear about great things happening in other areas of the world, and reflect with peers and mentors is a rare gift. OER25 reminded me that our work in open education matters not just academically, but socially and ethically. My gratitude goes to everyone I met, every session that provoked new insights, and a field that continues to grow and sustain itself through collaboration.
Here’s to more conversations, and the hard questions that follow.
Brandon Carson is a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Education at Ontario Tech University, Canada. His research explores how higher education leaders perceive and support Open Educational Practices (OEP). He is also conducting a province-wide study on the current state of OEP across Ontario’s colleges, universities, and Indigenous institutes.
Photo credits: GO-GN dinner by Alison D’Cruz. Jenni and Judith presenting at OER25, and Brandon outside the Houses of Parliament by Brandon Carson.
