Finalization of OER Policy of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamshala, India

Finalization of OER Policy of the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamshala

New Delhi, January 08, 2016: Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA), New Delhi assisted the Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamshala towards developing an OER Policy of CUHP University. To this purpose a meeting was held on 1st September 2015 at the University and drafted policy statement for OER. The School of Education of Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP) facilitated the 2^nd meeting on 08 January 2016 in the Seminar Hall of Central University of Himachal Pradesh, TAB, Shahpur with the technical assistance of Commonwealth Educational Media Centre for Asia (CEMCA) for the finalization of Open Educational Resources (OER) Policy for Central University of Himachal Pradesh.

Convenor of the meeting and Dean of Education, Dr. Manoj Kuamr Saxena formally welcomed the Chief Guest Prof. Y.S. Verma, Policy Experts/Participants of the meeting. Subsequently Dr. Manas Ranjan Panigrahi Programme Officer CEMCA summarised the features of OER Policy of CUHP which was drafted in the previous meeting held on 01.09.2015 in CUHP, TAB, Shahpur. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Y.S. Verma extended his best wishes for framing the OER Policy and also underlined that this is positive and decisive step in the finalization of OER Policy of CUHP. The participants/policy experts presented in the meeting represented their views and expected that for the successful implementation of this policy, the policy should be flexible, accountable and universal. Dr. Pankaj Khare Registrar, Central University of Punjab identified four distinguished features of Open Educational Resources i.e. adoption, adaptation, translation and contextualization.  Dr. Pradeep Nair Dean, SoJMC&NM, CUHP expressed his consent about the accountability and reliability of OER which would be developed by the CUHP faculty. Reflecting on these views he also stressed on the flexibility and updating Open Educational Resources developed by faculties of CUHP. Dr. Khare emphatically raised the issue of a sound infrastructure (studio with multimedia equipment) should be provided by the university to the faculty for the smooth development of OER resources. Finally Prof. Verma assured that the University administration will take speedy steps for execution of the recommendations for the framing of OER Policy as discussed in the meeting. He also further said that the University will implement the policy after approval of the executive counsel of the University.