Dr. Rory McGreal is an internationally recognized leader in Open Educational Resources (OER) with a distinguished record of research, advocacy, and global impact. A long-time researcher in open and flexible learning at Athabasca University in Canada, Rory has devoted the last decade to advancing OER and mobile learning, becoming one of the most influential voices in the field.
In 2010, he was appointed one of the world’s first UNESCO Chairs in OER—a position he continues to hold, also supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE). Through this role, Rory established and operates the OER Knowledge Cloud, an invaluable global repository providing access to scholarly and popular literature on open education.
Dr. Rory McGreal is a prolific researcher and editor, currently serving as co-editor of the leading open access journal IRRODL (The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning), where he has emphasized the central role of openness in the future of education. His work consistently underscores the advantages of openly licensed learning materials over proprietary resources, challenging misconceptions and advocating for OER as a sustainable solution to global education challenges.
Known as a true OER globetrotter, Rory has delivered countless presentations and provided guidance to institutions and governments around the world, from Canada to Asia, Africa, and beyond. His persistent and persuasive advocacy has not only influenced policy but has also inspired countless educators and researchers to embrace openness.
As an Irish Canadian scholar with a global outlook, Dr. Rory McGreal stands as one of the most effective and respected champions of open education worldwide.
