Coming this academic year, we are thrilled to offer the new Certificate in Open Educational Pathways. This reimagined program is designed to meet you exactly where you are in your open education journey and take you where you want to go. Our new certificate combines a complete refresh of the Certificate in Open Education Librarianship and the Certificate in Open Pedagogy, an exciting outcome from our recent efforts to refine and improve our professional development offerings to serve you better.
Your Journey Begins
No matter your role in higher education, your journey through the Certificate in Open Educational Pathways begins with a shared foundational unit. Together with a cohort of peers, you will ground yourself in the core values of open education, equity, and systemic change. From there, you will choose your specialized destination.
To be more inclusive of the diverse professional roles driving our community forward, we will offer four distinct specialization pathways.
Offered January 2027
The Open Author: Develop expertise in the creation, adaptation, and structuring of high-quality open content.
The Open Education Leader: Learn to align open practices with institutional policy, strategy, and sustainable funding.
Offered September 2027
The Open Pedagogue: Shift from resources to practices, focusing on student agency and renewable assignments.
The Open Publisher: Navigate the technical, editorial, and workflow demands of digital open publishing.
To fit your busy schedule, this intensive three-month experience will be offered twice a year - once in the fall and once in the spring - with rotating pathways available each term. The program will launch in January 2027.
As you complete your chosen route, you won't just walk away with actionable skills; you’ll earn a formal Certification and Digital Badge to showcase your specialized expertise to your institution and the broader academic community.
Find Your Pathway Forward
Get ready to elevate your practice and help reshape higher education around learners' needs.
Information Session
Learn more at our upcoming information session October 14. 2026 at 2:30pm - 3pm CT. Register here to attend this virtual session.
Spring '27 Pricing
Institutional: $500 per participant Discount! Every active institutional member - current and newly joined this fiscal year - receives a single lifetime complimentary participant registration.
Consortial: $750 per participant Discount!Consortia purchasing 10 or more participant enrollments receive the discounted rate of $500 per participant.
Non-Member: $1,000 per participant
Join the Spring '27 Cohort
Sign up now to receive registration information and instructions in early December. The online course begins January 11, 2027. Stay tuned for full cohort schedules.
Please note: With thoughtful consideration, the Open Education Network is sunsetting the Certificate in Open Educational Librarianship and the Certificate in Open Pedagogy in 2026. We are grateful for the opportunities these certificates have provided us to work with wonderful librarians, educators, and staff, realizing shared goals to make learning more accessible, inclusive, and student-centered. As we funnel the strengths of these programs into the new Certificate in Open Educational Pathways, we look forward to even greater educational endeavors and lasting partnerships.
