Adopting OER models at a national level: the experience of Wales

Tuesday 9:00-10:30 (5), Blaydon/Gibbs

Type: Lightning talk

Theme: Open policy, research, scholarship and access

#oer14 #abs77

Authors

Miss Sue Burnett, Facilitation & Publishing, IT Services, University of South Wales │Prifysgol De Cymru, [email protected]
Ms Debbie Baff, Open Educational Resources & Practice Project Manager │Rheolydd Prosiect Adnoddau ac Ymarfer Addysgol Agored, Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching │Canolfan Rhagoriaeth Dysgu ac Addysgu
University of South Wales │Prifysgol De Cymru, [email protected]

Abstract

Introduction

As a small, agile nation Wales has to maximise resources to the benefit of the Welsh population, economy and society as well as contributing to the rest of the world. This talk will outline how all nine of the universities in Wales worked collaboratively to develop the concept of Wales as an OER nation for higher education and how they were able to influence government policy in this area.

Methods

The talk will outline how an initial concept from Professor Clive Mulholland, Chair of the Higher Education Wales Pro Vice Chancellor Learning and Teaching Advisory Group, and Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of South Wales, was driven forward.

Results

The nine Welsh universities have committed to a declaration of intent regarding the future development of OER across the nation, which is supported by the Welsh Government.

The practical application of this approach — the active sharing of online resources at a national level — is presented as work in progress, and the talk will outline the development activity made to date.

Discussion

This talk will also describe:

• some of the challenges in gaining the crucial national buy-in, and how they were overcome at political, institutional and individual levels.

• the emerging recognition of the importance of open educational practice in academic practice and delivery in enhancing Higher Education at national and transnational levels.

• Wales: a small country with big impact.

References

Open Education Conference. 2013. Adopting OER models at a national level: the experience of Wales. [Online]. [Accessed 26 November 2013]. Available from: http://openeducation2013.sched.org/event/c558236410350872a44dca1a725b43cf#.UpTUk6Xnu2M. [Accessed 20 November 2013].
Welsh Universities: Think Wales. 2013. Wales signs declaration of intent to lead the way on the use of online education resources. [Online]. [Accessed 26 November 2013]. Available from: http://www.thinkwales.ac.uk/news6.php#.UpTV06Xnu2N. [Accessed 20 November 2013].

Files

• OER14_Presentation_SueBurnett_DebbieBaff.pptx

Further details

Keywords: Government policy, higher education, OER, online resources, open education practice