Grant and Funding Programs Offered by AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique (REL)

AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique is a collaborative initiative dedicated to expanding the use and production of open educational resources (OER) across Atlantic Canada. Through its activities, the initiative supports educators, librarians and institutions who wish to adopt, adapt or create openly licensed learning materials. A central component of this support is the provision of financial assistance in the form of development grants for OER projects.

The initiative’s funding is typically aimed at projects that reduce student costs, improve access to quality learning materials, and encourage innovative pedagogy through the use of OER. Eligible applicants generally include faculty members, instructional staff, librarians and other educational professionals working in postsecondary institutions in the Atlantic provinces.

AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique’s grants commonly prioritize the development of new open textbooks or course modules, the adaptation or remixing of existing open content to local contexts, and the adoption of OER at the course or program level. Projects may also involve the creation of ancillary materials such as test banks, slide decks, assignments or multimedia resources that are shared under open licences.

Beyond direct funding, the initiative often provides guidance on open licensing, accessibility, and best practices in open pedagogy. By coupling financial support with community-building and expertise, AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique helps increase institutional capacity for open education across the region.

The primary audience for AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique funding is the higher education sector in Atlantic Canada, including universities and colleges. By enabling the development of freely available, high-quality learning resources, the initiative contributes to lowering textbook and materials costs for students and improving equity of access. Funded projects are normally shared openly, allowing other educators in the region and beyond to reuse and adapt the materials.

Through its grant programs, AtlanticOER – REL Atlantique plays a growing role in the regional funding landscape for teaching and learning innovation. Its focus on open licensing and collaborative sharing aligns with broader national and international movements toward open education, helping to ensure that public investments in learning materials can be reused and built upon across institutions.