ICDE’s key activities are the organization of conferences and meetings, including the biennial World Conference, the annual Standing Conference of Presidents, and regional conferences held from time to time at the initiative of member institutions.

As a network organization, ICDE is also well placed to provide support and strategic advice to members seeking to undertake collaboration projects and obtain funding.

Since 1999, ICDE has sought to recognize outstanding achievement in open and distance education through the Prize of Excellence award. The organization also publishes the online journal, Open Praxis, and maintains the ICDE website and monthly newsletter service as its chief information channels for members and other interested parties within open and distance education.

Information about ICDE's activities in the twelve months until November 2009: