/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/current-students/images/Coffs-harbour_student-group_20220616_33-147kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/current-students/services/counselling/images/RS21533_English-College-Student_20191210_DSC_6961-117kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/study/scholarships/images/STEPHANIE-PORTO-108-2-169kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/study/arts-and-humanities/images/RS20958_Chin-Yung-Pang-Andy_20190309__79I5562-960X540.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/experience/images/SCU-INTNL-STUDY-GUIDE-280422-256-72kb.jpg)
/prod01/channel_8/media/dep-site-assets/component-library/screenshots/online-1X1.jpg)
Open Educational Resources
/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/services/library/images/Teaching-Page_OER-Image_1494X1494.jpg)
About OERs
Open Educational Resources (OERs) are openly and freely available resources that can be adopted and (in many cases) adapted under Creative Commons (CC) licences.
OERs remove the often prohibitive costs of course materials, ensuring equity of access to learning content. Such resources also provide pedagogical benefits for educators, including the capacity to innovate and tailor content for alignment with the course and unit learning outcomes.
The University encourages the adoption of Open Educational Resources, as stated in Clause 72 of the Assessment, Teaching and Learning Procedures.
In conjunction with the Council for Australasian University Libraries OER Collective SCU has contributed to the following open textbooks:
The Library has an informative Open Resources Library guide which provides an overview of open resources as a whole.
View the guideThe Library has curated collections of subject-specific Open Textbooks. All the resources in these collections are in the public domain, or have a CC licence for re-use, revision, remixing, redistribution or retention.
Browse the collectionFaculty and College Librarians can provide advice on how to source, recommend or replace prescribed texts with OERs.
Faculty and College Librarians/prod01/channel_8/media/scu-dep/services/library/images/RS22196_Holly_Millican_20200217_-1607.jpg)
OER Grant Program 2025
In 2025 SCU Library piloted an OER Grant program to assist SCU staff to replace commercial, prescribed textbook/s with a free for student alternative.
This grant program was made possible with the support of Higher Education Participation and Partnership (HEPPP) funding.
Grants awarded, 2025
Jonathan Harlen, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
Development grant ($2000)
Replace two textbooks in LAWS2018 Wills and estates
Estimated saving per student $400
Ebi Cocodia, Faculty of Health
Development grant ($2000)
Replace a commercial textbook in COUN1001, COUN1002, COUN1003, COUN2001, COUN2002, COUN2003, COUN2004, COUN2005, COUN3001, COUN3002
Estimated savings per student: $209.95
Johanna Niewoudt, SCU College and Damian Fernando, The Hotel School
Adoption grant ($1000)
Replace one textbook in HOTL1002 Accounting and Finance for Hotel Operations to achieve zero-textbook cost in the Diploma of Hotel Management
Estimated saving per student $94
Brendan Walker-Munro, Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
Adoption grant ($1000)
Replace one textbook in LAWS2016 Evidence law
Estimated saving per student $185