Dr. Arzu Sardarli of First Nations University of Canada presented at the OE Bootcamp on May 15, 2025, explaining how Open Educational Resources (OER) can help achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), call for inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for students from diverse social, cultural, and academic backgrounds.
OER—freely accessible, openly licensed teaching and learning materials—are a powerful tool to reduce barriers to education, enhance accessibility, and promote lifelong learning. Dr. Sardarli highlighted examples such as the Cree Dictionary of Mathematical Terms with Sound and Introductory Statistics with Indigenous Elements, both supported by the University of Regina's Open Educational Resources Program. These resources demonstrate how open education initiatives can directly support sustainability efforts by making education more accessible and culturally relevant.