Open Textbook Publishing Programs at Australian Universities: Results from a National Survey

Studies show university students struggle to afford textbooks, which can lead them to go hungry or withdraw altogether. Universities are addressing this problem by adopting, adapting and publishing openly licensed or 'open' textbooks in an attempt to increase participation and improve student outcomes. Little academic research has been conducted on open textbook publishing at Australian universities. Most existing research on open textbook publishing focuses on the international context, where differences in funding and legislation affect not only how, but the extent to which this publishing work is undertaken. For my Editing and Publishing Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) research project, I am conducting the first national study of open textbook publishing programs at Australian universities. In February 2022, I ran a mixed methods online research survey of open textbook publishing practices and experiences at 30 Australian universities. In this presentation, I will share some of the results of this survey, including emerging trends in funding, staffing, infrastructure and professional development for open textbook publishing in Australia