Open textbook publishing programs at Australian universities
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Open textbook publishing programs at Australian universities

 

Human Ethics Research Approval Number -  H21REA125

 
While there is a growing body of research on open educational practice (OEP) and open educational resource (OER) use in Australian higher education, little research has been conducted on open textbook publishing at Australian universities. Most existing research on open textbook publishing focuses on the international context (e.g. North America), where differences in funding and legislative support affect not
only how, but the extent to which this work is undertaken.


Recent studies such the 2019 Starved of opportunity survey conducted by the National Union of Students, YOUNG Campaigns, and the Australian Council of Social Service have found many Australian university students struggle to afford textbooks. The prohibitive cost of educational resources can lead them to go hungry or even drop out of study altogether. Australian universities are increasingly viewing open textbooks as an effective strategy for increasing participation in higher education and improving student outcomes.


This Doctor of Philosophy project is the first national study of open textbook publishing programs at Australian universities. It aims to investigate current and emerging trends in open textbook publishing within the broader context of university and library-led publishing.

I am requesting your assistance as understanding how we can build sustainable open textbook publishing programs at Australian universities and increase the output of high-quality Australian open textbooks will improve the student experience by helping to:
•    reduce the financial burden of study
•    remove geographic and copyright barriers preventing students from accessing essential course materials
•    provide more accessible, diverse, and inclusive content than is typically offered by traditional publishers.

Participant information sheet

Video summary of the project

Principal Investigator
Samara Rowling
PhD Candidate, Editing & Publishing
School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland
Email: Samara.Rowling2@usq.edu.au
Twitter: @SamaraRowling

Supervisor Details
Associate Professor Pema Duddul
School of Creative Arts, University of Southern Queensland
Email: Pema.Duddul@usq.edu.au
Telephone: +61 7 4631 1938

There are 30 questions in this survey.

Consent to Participate
Clicking on the ‘Submit’ button at the end of this questionnaire will be accepted as confirmation of your consent to participate in this project. Responding ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Would you be willing to participate in a follow up interview?’, providing contact details, and responding 'Yes' to the statement 'Do you consent to the researcher using the contact details provided to contact you?' will be accepted as confirmation of your consent to be contacted to arrange a follow up interview.