In a keynote address at the OE Bootcamp on May 16, 2025, Dr. Rajiv Jhangiani explored how open educational practices can advance social and epistemic justice in higher education. While the adoption of open educational resources (OER) helps alleviate students' financial burdens, Jhangiani argued that broader open practices—including collaborative resource creation, transparent assessment, and inclusive pedagogy—can create more equitable and supportive learning environments.
Jhangiani emphasized that educators should design learning resources, activities, assessments, and policies that center justice. He provided practical strategies for moving beyond cost savings to address dimensions of access, agency, and representation. The talk highlighted that open educational practices empower students to participate as co-creators of knowledge, fostering a sense of belonging and challenging traditional power dynamics in the classroom.
The session, titled "Designing for Justice with Open Educational Practices," was part of a series hosted by the UROpenEd Program. Slides from the presentation are available online.