1. Open Educational Resources (OER)
Policy at the University of Edinburgh
Stuart Nicol
stuart.nicol@ed.ac.uk

2. OER …
• Vision
• Policy
• Support

3. OER vision
1. For the common good: Teaching and learning
materials exchange to enrich the University and the
sector;
2. Edinburgh at its best: Showcasing openly the highest
quality learning and teaching;
3. Edinburgh’s treasures: Making available online a
significant collection of unique learning materials
available openly to Scotland, the UK and the world,
promoting health and economic and cultural well-
being.

4. The University encourages staff and students to use,
create, and publish OERs to enhance the quality of
the student experience, enhance the provision of
learning opportunities for all, and improve teaching
practices. It also recognises that use, creation, and
publication of OERs are consistent with the
University’s reputation, values, and mission to:
“make a significant, sustainable and socially
responsible contribution to Scotland, the UK and the
world, promoting health and economic and cultural
wellbeing”.
Purpose of the OER policy

5. Welcome
Open educational resources (OERs) are digital
resources (e.g. course material, images, video,
multimedia resources, assessment items, etc.)
that are used in the context of teaching and
learning.
Released by the copyright holder under an open
licence (e.g. Creative Commons) permitting their
use or re-purposing (re-use, revision, remixing,
redistribution) by others.
How the policy defines OER

6. Why OER?
Creation of OER has big benefits to individuals, educational institutions
and society as a whole.
Why re-invent the wheel?
Free up time to spend on other aspects of the teaching and learning
process & expand your range of teaching materials.
Raise your profile
… and increase your impact whilst allowing others to improve your
resources.
Take your resources with you
… when you move from one institution to another.
Improve your teaching
… by encouraging you to reflect, connect with people interested in the
same areas as you & get broader and different views on topic areas.

7. Policy in context: some background

8. Committees

9. Reports

10. Policies

11. Policy needs action:
Information Services Group’s
support for OERs

12. • Central supported service: myself and
Stephanie (Charlie) Farley
@OpenEdEdinburgh open.ed@ed.ac.uk
• Advice / staff and student training sessions /
awareness raising
• Open.Ed website (open.ed.ac.uk)
– Showcasing Edinburgh’s OERs
– How-to guides
– News, events and blog articles
OER service