The University of Ottawa Library OER Program: Evaluation Report

Abstract

Launched in 2020, the University of Ottawa Library OER Program seeks to raise awareness among faculty members about the cost of commercial course materials and encourage them to choose free, open-access resources, thereby reducing the financial burden on students and promoting access to knowledge. Additionally, given the persistent lack of French-language educational resources adapted to a minority context, the program (particularly its grant component) also aims to encourage the production of OER in this language.

The OER Program was evaluated to assess its relevance, effectiveness, and efficiency. This exercise coincides with the fifth and final year of the program and aims to determine whether the human and financial resources invested have led to the desired short-term and intermediate outcomes and to suggest improvements for the implementation of other OER initiatives at the University.