The 6th International Meeting of OERu Partners will focus on the implementation of the OERu 1st year of study.

This page provides an overview of the information that OERu partner institutions need to determine whether they are in a position to:

  1. Offer assessment services for transcript credit for selected OERu courses (survey to be distributed)
  2. Recognise transfer credit for selected courses (survey to be distributed).

Partners providing assessment services and/or recognition of transfer credit for the OERu 1st year of study will be listed on the oeru.org website.

Quicklinks

OERu 1st year of study exit qualifications
OERu micro-course model
Key points for reading the list of MVP courses
Course list

Exit qualifications for the OERu 1st year of study

The OERu has confirmed two exit qualifications for the 1st year of study:

  • Certificate of General Studies, Thompson Rivers University.
  • Certificate of Higher Education in Business (OERu), University of the Highlands and Islands.

Clarifying the OERu micro-course model

As an international network, the OERu must ensure transnational credit transfer. However, the course sizes that make up a year of study differ across international jurisdictions. The international standard for one year of full-time study is approximately 1200 notional learning hours. The difference in course sizes typically found in different regions is illustrated in the table below:

Region / Country Number of courses
for 1 FTE year of study
Learning hours
per course
Total learning hours
North America 10 120 1200
Australia 8 160 1280
United Kingdom 6 200 1200
New Zealand 8 150 1200

To achieve a standard transfer “currency” the OERu has adopted a modular micro-course format. Each micro-course equates to 40 notional hours of learning effort. Therefore, in North America 3 micro-courses are typically required to make up a standard 3-credit course, whereas in Australia, 4 micro-courses must be completed to qualify for transcript credit for the relevant course.

The assessing OERu partner can decided to offer one assessment for the set of associated micro-courses, or alternatively provide an assessment for each micro-course. In the OERu model, learners must successfully complete 30 micro-courses for an equivalent full year of study.

The decision to implement micro-courses has enabled the OERu to partner with Edubits to offer micro-credentials for selected courses with pathways to formal academic credit.

OERu minimum viable product courses

The OERu is planning to launch the equivalent of 72 micro-courses (2,880 notional hours or 2.4 FTE years of study) as minimum viable product for the OERu 1st year of study. 80% of the open online courses have been completed (or are nearing completion) in preparation for a phased launch of the OERu 1st year of study.

key points

Key points

Key points before reading the course table below:

  • Completed means that all the course materials have been published on the OERu course site. Note that instructions for the assessments, fees for assessment services etc. will be updated before the courses go live.
  • Course sites: The micro-course sites column provides links to the published course materials on the course.oeru.org site. At the bottom of each page on the course site there is a “Content” link to the source materials on WikiEducator. As an open project, course content is developed openly and we adopt the open source traditions of releasing early and frequently. Bear in mind that courses that are not marked “completed” are under active development. Expect frequent changes.
  • Course registration: The course registration feature on many of the OERu course sites has not been activated. A site accepting registrations will show a head graphic () in the main site navigation. The OERu will not activate the registration feature until: transcript credit arrangements have been confirmed with the assessing partners, credit transfer agreements have been signed, and a phased launch sequence of courses for the 1st year of study has been agreed by the active partners.
  • Course specification / test description: Links to course specification, and /or test descriptions are provided to assist partners in determining credit transfer options.
  • Residency requirements: Thompson Rivers University will have completed the two courses required to meet the residency requirements for the Certificate of General Studies. The Certificate of Higher Education in Business has been validated by the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), subject to implementing a number of requirements. The UHI qualification has a residency requirement of three “modules” (i.e. 200 notional learning hours per module) that must be assessed locally by the University. UHI will assemble these courses. Once the final validation conditions have been met, the award can be advertised and learners can commence their studies with the completed OERu open course options.
  • Micro-credentials: OERu micro-courses that have approved micro-credentials are indicated in the table below using the “Edubits” logo. These courses will offer digital certificates for assessed learning, and successful completion of the set of micro-courses will qualify for transcript credit for the full course.

Course list


Completion status last updated on 09 August 2017.

Course Assessing
Institution
Published micro-courses
Creating sustainable futures
(Complete)
OP

Inspiring challenge of sustainable development
Designing the transition to a living future
Strategic planning for success
Taking action and choosing priorities
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
English for academic writing
(Complete)
TESU

The process of writing
Writing for academic purposes
Making your arguments more credible
Revising and polishing your writing
TECEP® Test description

Regional relations in the Asia and Pacific
(Complete)
USQ

Introduction to regional relations in Asia and the Pacific
Understanding culture in Asia and the Pacific
Regional economics in Asia and the Pacific
Tourism in Asia and the Pacific
Course specification

World history in the modern era
(Complete)
TESU

World history: The early modern period
World history: Imperialism and war
World history: World War II to the present
Course specification

Introduction to project management
(Complete)
OP

Role of the project manager
Initiating a project
Planning a project
Executing and closing a project
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Principles of management
(Complete)
TESU / CLEP
OP

Introduction to management
Leading and managing people

Planning and managing organisations
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Indigenous Australia
(Complete)
CSU

The dreaming and relationships to country
Indigenous Australian histories
Human rights and indigenous Australian peoples
Contemporary realities for indigenous Australians
Course specification

Corporate communication
(Complete)
TESU

Writing for business success
Creating effective business presentations
Intercultural communication, teamwork and leadership
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Principles of marketing
(Complete)
TESU / CLEP
OP

Core foundations of successful marketing
Market research and customer insights
Launching products and generating market demand
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Art appreciation and techniques
(Complete)
TRU

Artistic process and visual language
Artistic media and architecture
Art in our world and beyond
TBC

Introduction to entrepreneurship
(Complete)
TESU / OP

Becoming an entrepreneur
Planning a business startup
Financing and managing a business startup
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Learning in a digital age
(90%)
OP

Digital literacies for online learning
Digital citizenship
Open education, copyright and open licensing in a digital world
Critical media literacies and associated digital skills
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Introduction to research methods in Psychology
(80%)
TRU Micro-course structure TBD
Critical reasoning
(Complete)
TESU Course site
Principles of macroeconomcis
(80%)
AU / CLEP
OP

Introduction to principles of macroeconomics
Aggregate activity and demand
Monetary policy
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Principles of microeconomics
(75%)
AU / CLEP
OP

Introduction to principles of microeconomics
Production and consumption
Market structures
Course specification

Edubit-logo.svg
Introduction to Psychology
(60%)
KPU

Foundations of Psychological Science
Thinking, learning, and memory
Evolution, perception, and consciousness
Course specification

Introduction to Business UHI

Micro-course structure TBD.

Introduction to customer centred business UHI Micro-course structure TBD.
Introduction to operations management UHI Micro-course structure TBD.