ICDE honour for CODE fellow Alan Tait

Professor Emeritus Alan Tait is a long-standing fellow of the University of London Centre for Online and Distance Education. He was Director of International Development and Teacher Education and Pro-Vice Chancellor at the Open University UK between 2007-2012, and was formerly Dean of the Faculty of Education and Language Studies. Professor Tait was President of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) from 2007-2010, and Co-Director of the Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning 1988-2013. In addition, he has held editorial roles in the European Journal of Distance and E-learning (2005-2013), Open Learning (1989-1998) and was the founding editor of the Journal of Learning for Development. He has worked widely in developing countries, and for international organisations such as UNESCO, the European Commission, and the Commonwealth of Learning. Throughout his career, Professor Tait has been committed to the use of Open, Distance and Flexible Learning (OFDL) for social justice and inclusion. 

Professor Tait has been trusted with several significant roles within ICDE. He was a member of the  Executive Committee from 2016 to 2019, Member of the Editorial Board of Open Praxis until 2021 and Chair of the ICDE Quality Network from 2016 to 2022. He also contributed to several pertinent ICDE reports, such as the report “Student Success in open, distance and e-learning”  from 2015. He has supported ICDE in significant policy consultations and undertaken several quality reviews on behalf of ICDE.   

“Professor Tait’s exceptional knowledge and insight have been invaluable to ICDE and the whole global community of OFDL. His inclusive and professional leadership style has been greatly appreciated.”