Open educational practices: establishing a framework for UCC

The purpose of the project was to explore the incorporation of open educational resources (OER) into teaching and learning in UCC. OER provide a more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable alternative to teaching and learning materials and resources and contribute to open educational practices which aim to improve access to high-quality education, allow for inclusive participation and co-creation, and promote lifelong learning (National Forum). The need for this project stemmed from a recognition of OER in higher educational institutions globally. A number of countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and the UK have made significant progress in implementing OER, demonstrating their positive impact on teaching and learning. Within Ireland, the National Forum have established the National Hub for sharing teaching resources and an open resource on Using OER and OEP for Teaching and Learning. The project has broad relevance as the principles of open educational practices and OER can be applied to any discipline. Key stakeholders would include the Library, students, and academic staff.