With support from Otago Polytechnic, the OERu has increased its learning design and development capacity to extend its range of online micro-credentials.

The OERu has partnered with New Zealand’s Otago Polytechnic to provide assessment services for learners who want to earn micro-credentials for its growing inventory of open, online micro-courses. Accreditation through the Polytechnic’s “EduBits” model offers assessments that are small enough to be manageable for busy people, but still remain meaningful for employers. Learners who complete the designated micro-credentials can gain academic credit towards the Certificate Higher Education Business (OERu), a UK-based qualification from the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Otago Polytechnic has dedicated the equivalent of one full-time staff member to OERu, to help progress the development of micro-credentials and to expand micro-course offerings. The OER Foundation -- the non-profit organisation which coordinates the OERu -- is pleased to welcome Claire Goode and Simonne Wood from Otago Polytechnic who will share this new role at the OERu.

 Meet the new members of the OERu team

Claire Goode is a Learning and Teaching Specialist with 20 years' experience teaching in a variety of contexts, including prison education, university and foundation programmes, in the UK, France, and New Zealand. She originally qualified as a secondary school teacher (of Modern Languages), before moving into Higher Education, and was awarded Senior Fellowship with the Higher Education Academy in June 2018. Claire is particularly interested in teacher development and also enjoys seeing how educational technology can enhance the learning experience of different students, while opening many teachers' eyes to new opportunities.

Simonne Wood has extensive experience of the tertiary education sector through her work at Oxford University and more recently at Otago Polytechnic – with eight years’ working in operations management for a leading UK social business in between. Her interest in learning design and technology enhanced learning has developed from a background in academic administration and technology support.

“Otago Polytechnic’s commitment to invest additional capacity in the OERu innovation partnership demonstrates the power of the consortium model to collectively achieve more through collaboration than what individual institutions can achieve on their own“, said Wayne Mackintosh, Director and UNESCO / ICDE Chair in OER. “This is sustainable higher education in action!“