Insights into developments in European Open Education institutional policymaking

Abstract

The report, Insights into developments in European Open Education institutional policymaking, published in autumn 2023, examines the policy work on open education (OE) in Europe and how it has affected higher education. The report highlights the factors that promote and hinder openness in education. A news item on the report highlights five points:

• “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.”