Conestoga is among five institutions across Canada awarded funding from Embark Student Foundation (Embark) to enhance student success.
The college will receive $500,000 to support Making Education Accessible with Open Education Resources, which will see the adaptation, creation and adoption of additional Open Educational Resources (OER), directly impacting thousands of Conestoga students and an extended reach to over 100,000 students globally.
“Through the Embark Major Grant Program, we’ve seen how Canadian post-secondary institutions are evolving to meet student needs,” said Andrew Lo, President and CEO, Embark. “This year, proposals highlighted the urgent challenge of youth unemployment, focusing on equitable access to work-integrated learning and upskilling opportunities that empower students to graduate prepared, confident and ready to contribute meaningfully to their fields.”
Recommended by UNESCO in support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, OER are teaching, learning and research materials available in the public domain or released under open licences, allowing educators and institutions to customize content to meet industry and student needs. OER are freely available, reducing financial barriers and enhancing student success by replacing traditional paid resources.
Conestoga is a significant contributor and early adopter of OER, beginning in 2015 through the college's Library & Learning Services and strengthened by the establishment of the Open Learning team in 2021. Faculty at Conestoga have adopted more than 8,000 open resources, generating nearly $6 million in student savings. Continued access to free high-quality, relevant and inclusive learning resources is essential to supporting student success and ensuring learners at Conestoga and around the world have the resources they need to thrive in evolving academic environments.
“We are grateful for Embark’s support as we continue to advance open education at Conestoga,” said Trish Weigel-Green, vice-president, Students and Registrar’s Office at Conestoga. “By expanding the development and use of OER, we are empowering faculty to innovate and ensuring students have access to relevant and engaging materials that reflect the needs of today’s workforce.”
Launched in 2023, the Embark Student Foundation Major Grant Program awards millions to post-secondary institutions to support innovative programs, services and initiatives that have a positive impact on student experiences in Canada. So far, the company has awarded $7.4 million to universities, colleges and trades schools across Canada and expects to award millions more over the next two years.
Embark Student Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation and owner of Embark Student Corp., Canada’s resource for education savings and planning.
Conestoga is a leader in polytechnic education, delivering a full range of career-focused education, training and applied research programs to prepare students for success in the new knowledge economy and promote economic prosperity in the communities it serves.
For more information, view the full release.