1 What is an Open course?

An Open course is a free learning resource available to anyone with access to the internet and platforms that host such courses. These courses offer opportunities for flexible, lifewide and lifelong learning for anyone interested in a specific subject area. Open courses may be created by educators, in partnership with students and communities, but also by organisations and institutions wanting to make learning more widely accessible for social good.

Open courses often attract a high number of learners from across the world and can be combined with existing modules and programmes of study to complement and expand existing learning opportunities. This approach introduces open educational practices and Open Educational Resources (OERs), enabling learners to connect with other learners outside of their institution. This can encourage a range of different perspectives, contexts and backgrounds.

To further extend their potential reach, Open courses and their associated OERs are often made available using Creative Common Licences to enable wider reuse and repurposing.