2025 marked a milestone year for the OER Collective, celebrating both impact and legacy. An early success story came full circle when the OER Building Cost Planning, from the very first OER Collective grant round, won the University of South Australia’s Unstoppable Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. We also farewelled the Collective in a special webinar on Friday 12 December, featuring warm reflections and insightful presentations from across the community. The interactive reflection captured the depth of shared experience and underscored the lasting influence of the initiative.
Over its four-year journey, the OER Collective supported 40 grant projects with more than $100,000 in funding and built an OER catalogue now bursting with 80+ titles, with more on the way. In 2025 alone, the Collective delivered 10 Community of Practice events, awarded 7 grants totalling $25,000, published 28 books, and engaged 40 institutions, representing 89% of CAUL members. The OER Collective Working Group also significantly revised the OER Collective Publishing Workflow guide, ensuring the community has a robust, openly licensed resource to support future OER programs. The year also saw three international events featuring the OER Collective, recognising its global visibility and impact.
Looking ahead, continuity in open education for our region remains a priority. As announced at the webinar on 12 December, a new service provider will maintain the OER catalogue and offer an alternative publishing pathway for CAUL members. Following a thorough review, CAVAL has been selected for this role, ensuring the OER Collective’s legacy continues to support open education into the future.