Dear colleagues
We are pleased to announce that SPARC Europe has just published a new Open Education report “Insights into developments in European Open Education institutional policymaking.” We encourage you to send this to your library directors and to other open education leaders at your organisation.
Drawing on insights from leading policymakers, participants of the 2021 and 2022 SPARC Europe Open Education surveys, and other industry experts, the report investigates the question of how Open Education policymaking can share the future of European Higher Education. Discover what’s driving the OE policy movement forward and the barriers holding it back.
This report is designed to provide an accessible summary for those considering developing a policy of their own, setting out some of the different approaches in Europe.
Some of the report highlights:
- Libraries as change makers: While libraries champion OE policy development, collaborating with technical and pedagogical experts accelerates progress and broadens educator engagement.
- Return on Investment and decision-making: Senior decision makers respond to framings which emphasise the return on investment to institutions, and how OERs safeguard their assets and help them deliver on its broader social and economic mission.
- Formal and informal support: national policies boost OE progress, but in their absence, institutions leverage networks and internal advocates to advance.
- The OE-OER-Open Science Nexus: In Europe, Open Education policies often link to Open Science, but diverging incentives and maturity lead to distinct OER policy developments.
- It doesn’t need to be about control: effective policies focus on enhancing staff skills to broaden material reach, rather than controlling content or increasing administrative tasks.
The report advocates for adopting existing policies, collaborating beyond institutional and national boundaries, and building supportive coalitions.
Download the report here.
We encourage you to share this with your colleagues!