Everything open

I very much like this "Library guidance on OERs" from Glasgow Caledonian University, based apparently on one produced at Leeds. It is simple and clear, and acknowledges that different departments within the institution may have different approaches to the use of OERs (from encouraging them to outright disallowing them). It also states that:

This will be reassuring to staff who are worried that the use of OERs from other institutions will lead students to ask what they are paying such high fees for. (An argument I heard recently.)

What I particularly like about this set of guidelines is that it is just that - guidelines, as opposed to policy. It can be difficult to get an OER policy approved by all stakeholders, but no-one can argue with guidelines, especially when they are so gently phrased using words such as "encouraged" and "expected".

Thanks to Leeds and GCU for sharing this.