Flip to Open: Open Educational Resources & Open Textbooks

Open Education Resources (OER) are resources with open licenses which allow unlimited access, rights retention, reuse, revision and redistribution (UNESCO Recommendation on OER, 2019).

Open textbooks are a type of OER, and they provide a free and flexible alternative to traditional commercial textbooks.

OER and Open textbooks can be included on reading lists to complement or supplement traditional commercial publisher textbooks. Unlike commercial publisher textbooks, open textbooks can offer a customisable, inclusive and accessible learning experience for students.

The University of Manchester is exploring the potential use of OER and open textbooks on reading lists through our new Flip to Open project. The use of OER is aligned with the University’s Manchester 2035 strategy and its vision for flexible learning that is co-created with students.

We aim to create an OER Community of Practice to share best practice amongst our teaching staff.

Benefits

For students

Unlimited access: Open textbooks provide unlimited access to all students and are not restricted by traditional commercial publisher licencing models
Downloadable: There are no download restrictions on open textbooks, meaning students can download them to their own device to be used offline
Flexibility: Some open textbooks can be adapted by students. This means that teaching can reflect the diverse voices of cohorts of students
Accessibility: Unlimited download options mean students can use open textbooks with assistive technologies
Non-registered students: Open textbooks do not require students to login via their institution and can therefore be accessed by non-registered students completing life-long learning courses
Cost-savings: Using open textbooks can alleviate the financial cost of expensive books for students and the Library

For staff

Control over course content: OER allow teaching staff to adapt and reuse content to align with module learning outcomes, without being restricted by commercial textbooks
Ensure content is current: Unlike commercial eTextbooks, OER can be quickly updated to include the latest research, ensuring teaching materials remain current
Supporting innovative pedagogy: OER enables open pedagogy practices, such as co-creating content with students ensuring deeper learning and collaboration
Professional visibility and impact: Enhance the impact of your expertise through publishing OER and contribute to the global academic community
Collaboration opportunities: Engage with colleagues at other institutions to develop resources.
Accessibility: OER can help you deliver equitable learning experiences for all students.

Get involved

If you’re interested in learning more, please register for our online Introduction to OER webinar on Wednesday, 28 January 2026 at 13:00-13:30.

Please contact uml.oer@manchester.ac.uk if you have any questions or feedback.