Name: Bridging Global Open Education and Local Capacity Building: An Integrated Model from Paraguay.
Start: 2026-10-09T16:15:00-0400
End: 2026-10-09T16:30:00-0400

All sessions are available online except round tables, special activities, and workshops.

Bridging Global Open Education and Local Capacity Building: An Integrated Model from Paraguay.

Friday October 9, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT

Video

ID: 33976

In many emerging economies, access to high-quality education remains constrained by structural limitations, including restricted availability of advanced academic programmes, limited exposure to global knowledge networks, and insufficient development of analytical and digital skills. While open education resources (OER) and large-scale online learning initiatives have expanded access to knowledge, their integration into formal higher education systems remains uneven, particularly in Latin America.This session presents an institutional model developed in Paraguay that systematically integrates global open education resources into undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with the aim of enhancing students’ analytical capacity, digital competencies, and global readiness. The model combines internationally recognised open learning programmes—such as the HarvardX Professional Certificate in Data Science and the MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy—with locally delivered curricula, contextualised instruction, and structured academic support.A key innovation of this approach lies in moving beyond the passive consumption of open content. Instead, open courses are embedded within degree structures, aligned with learning objectives, and complemented by in-person facilitation, peer collaboration, and applied learning components. Students are not only exposed to world-class content but are also supported in developing the skills required to engage with it effectively, including academic English proficiency and quantitative reasoning.In parallel, the model incorporates a work-study scheme that connects students to real-world research projects and institutional initiatives, fostering the application of knowledge in practical settings. Additionally, participatory pedagogical approaches—such as the Pre-Texts methodology developed by the Harvard Cultural Agents Initiative—are implemented across courses to strengthen engagement, critical thinking, and collaborative learning.Emerging evidence from this experience suggests that the model contributes to substantial improvements in students’ data science capabilities, analytical performance, and confidence in engaging with international academic environments. Graduates from these programmes have been admitted to PhD programmes at leading universities such as University of California, Davis and University of Manchester, as well as master’s programmes at institutions including University of Chicago, London School of Economics, and University of Warwick. Furthermore, graduates have secured entry-level positions in organisations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, the Banco Central del Paraguay, and international data science firms, signalling strong alignment between training and labour market demands.The session will present the design principles, implementation process, and key lessons learned from this experience, with a focus on scalability and adaptability to other institutional and national contexts. By bridging global open education and local capacity development, this model offers a practical pathway for democratising access to high-quality education and strengthening human capital in emerging economies.

Speakers

José Molinas Vega

General Director, Instituto Desarrollo

Economist, academic, and researcher with extensive experience in public policy, development, and higher education in Paraguay. He has held senior positions in government and academia and has led multiple initiatives aimed at strengthening human capital and institutional capacity... Read More →

Friday October 9, 2026 4:15pm - 4:30pm EDT
Video

Lightning Talk (View Anytime)

Speaker Modality Online
Track Innovating Open Content to Democratize Knowledge

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OEGlobal 2026

José Molinas Vega

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OEGlobal 2026

José Molinas Vega

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