The article “Complex Digital Horizons in the Future of Education 4.0: Insights from UNESCO Recommendations”, published in volume 25(2) of the Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia (RIED), serves as the introductory piece to the special issue devoted by the journal in the second half of 2022 to Education 4.0 and digital transformation through the lens of UNESCO.
The authors, María Soledad Ramírez-Montoya (Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico), Rory McGreal (Athabasca University, Canada), and Jane-Frances Obiageli Agbu (National Open University of Nigeria), are renowned figures in the international open education community. In addition to authoring the article, they acted as coordinators of the thematic issue.
Through a literature review and propositional analysis, they connect the challenges posed by the digitalization of educational ecosystems with the pivotal roles played by open technologies, cultural transformation, public policy, and digital literacy. The article also synthesizes the key contributions of the ten papers included in the special issue, which address topics ranging from the implementation of emerging technologies to training practices involving OER, open science, and inclusive education supported by technology. These contributions are structured around five guiding themes or “lights”: reasoning for complexity, open platforms, digital support, new creations, and solidarity—highlighting their significance for fostering high-quality, inclusive, and sustainable education.
Combining institutional recommendations with emerging trends in pedagogical innovation, the authors propose a future-oriented vision that not only calls for reconstructing learning spaces and rethinking the role of educational institutions, but also for integrating open digital technologies as vehicles for equity, voice, and co-creation.
The article underscores the central role of complex thinking in reimagining education in the 21st century and emphasizes the need to create new learning ecosystems that respond to societal transformations accelerated by the pandemic. In sum, this contribution opens the Special Issue by offering a valuable and insightful synthesis for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in linking digital transformation with the principles of open access, international cooperation, and educational justice.
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How to Cite: Ramírez Montoya, M. S., McGreal, R., & Obiageli Agbu, J.-F. (2022). Complex Digital Horizons in the Future of Education 4.0: Insights from UNESCO Recommendations. RIED-Revista Iberoamericana de Educación a Distancia, 25(2), 09–21. https://doi.org/10.5944/ried.25.2.33843
