Book Review: Handbook of Open Universities Around the World, edited by Sanjaya Mishra and Santosh Panda (Routledge, 2025)

The Handbook of Open Universities Around the World, edited by Sanjaya Mishra and Santosh Panda, offers both a panoramic survey and a reflective critique of what openness truly means in higher education today. Drawing together insights from more than 100 scholars and practitioners, the editors have curated an extraordinary compilation that maps the histories, organizational structures, and innovations of 47 open universities across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The result is not only a celebration of institutional achievement but also an invitation to confront difficult questions about equity, sustainability, and the future of open learning. Open universities were originally conceived as democratic institutions designed to remove barriers of geography, class, gender, and prior schooling. They opened doors to learners traditionally excluded from mainstream education systems. In the current era of rapid digital transformation, when artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies are reshaping how education is delivered and experienced, the notion of openness demands fresh examination. The Handbook situates itself precisely at this critical juncture, bridging historical foundations with emerging digital realities.