OERu/2016 mid-year report to CEOs

Dear Vice Chancellors, Presidents and Chief Executives

The OERu network has made impressive progress during the first half of 2016 and is on track to achieve the key performance indicators agreed at the 2015 meeting of the OERu Council of Chief Executive Officers. For example, work on the completion of the open online courses required for the launch of the OERu 1st year of study is progressing well.

The 2016 international meeting of OERu partners, to be hosted by the University of the Highlands and Islands in Inverness, Scotland on 3 - 5 October 2016, will focus on the launch of the OERu 1st year of study. You will receive a formal letter of invitation in the near future, but prospective attendees may register online.

Herewith is a summary of key outputs of the OERu network for the first half of 2016. Please feel free to share the following information and associated resources with your senior colleagues.


 * 1) OERu Open Business Model.  Drawing on the inputs from the respective Oceania and North American regional meetings facilitated by Creative Commons International, and subsequent review and refinement by senior leaders in the network, we attach copies of the [[media:1248_OERu_BusinessModel_Canvas_PRESS.pdf|OERu open business model canvas]] (pdf 396KB) and associated  [[media:OERu Business Model Brochure.pdf|OERu brochure]] (pdf 1.1MB).   You may, of course, use these open resources to refine your own business strategies to leverage the potential of open education for more sustainable operations at your institution.
 * 2) OERu 1st Year of Study. The network has nominated two exit credentials for our 1st year of study: The Certificate of Higher Education (Business Studies), University of the Highlands and Islands; and the Certificate of General Studies, Thompson Rivers University.  Partner institutions have confirmed nineteen courses for the OERu 1st Year of Study, covering the following topic areas: Learning in a Digital Age; Business Studies; World History, International Relations, Indigenous Studies, Sustainable Development, Research Methods,  Psychology and the Humanities. Should your institution wish to list an exit credential for the launch of the OERu 1st year of study, or offer assessment services for transcript credit for any of the confirmed courses  - please contact Wayne Mackintosh (wayne@oefoundation.org).
 * 3) OERu Planning Milestones. The rigour of our OERu planning process has prepared a solid foundation for launching the OERu 1st Year of Study early in the new year (see timeline summary of the OERu planning milestones online).
 * 4) Marketing and communications. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation provided the OERu project with funding support to build capacity in marketing and communications. Working with professionals in the field from both Canada and New Zealand,  the OERu has developed a range of marketing assets with consistent messaging including resources for learner recruitment, social media coverage and a robust email drip campaign to assist with partner recruitment. Openly licensed, these resources have been designed for partners to incorporate their own logos to promote international brand awareness and association with a recognised international OER project.  We attach an example of the [[media:OERu_Learner_Rack_Card.pdf|learner rack card]] (pdf 922KB) for your information. The OER Foundation will prepare and distribute guidelines and ideas for how you could reuse and integrate these materials within your own marketing and communication strategies.

We look forward to your continuing support and hope that will be represented at the forthcoming meetings in Inverness.

With best wishes Wayne Director OER Foundation

Files available for download


 * 1) [[media:1259_OERu_7ThingsFlyer_v4 (1).pdf|7 Things you should know about OERu]]
 * 2) [[media:OERu Business Model Brochure.pdf|OERu Open Business Model Brochure]] (pdf 1.1MB).
 * 3) [[media:1248_OERu_BusinessModel_Canvas_PRESS.pdf|OERu Open Business Model Canvas]] (pdf 396KB).
 * 4) [[media:OERu_Learner_Rack_Card.pdf|OERu Learner Rack Card]] illustrating partner branding (pdf 922KB).