2026 Open Practices Award Winner

HAN University’s Comprehensive OER Strategy Development and Implementation

HAN University of Applied Sciences (The Netherlands)

Recognized as a University’s Comprehensive OER Strategy

From the nominator:

HAN University’s successful transition from an ambitious comprehensive strategy to a deeply rooted institutional practice is a textbook example of an iterative planning and implementation approach, as recommended in the UNESCO and Commonwealth of Learning (COL) report Guidelines on the Development of Open Educational Resources Policies.

Since 2022, HAN has systematically addressed educational, legal, and technical barriers to OER. Key 2026 milestones include the establishment of a Content Support Team (CST) for hands-on instructor assistance, the launch of an OER competency profile for targeted professionalization, and the integration of OER contributions into formal recognition and reward systems. 

By adopting a structured change management approach HAN demonstrates how an institution can foster a sustainable open culture. Its commitment to sharing all strategy-related assets openly makes HAN a leading example and a generous contributor to the global open education community.

Developing a sustainable OER ecosystem needs a multi-pronged approach. HAN University’s OER implementation strategy demonstrates such an approach, which takes care of policy, people, process and product.

Award Reviewer

Whole institution change is always difficult but HAN University has provided an exemplary case for how to do so in relation to open education, involving all stakeholders and aligning strategy and operations.

Award Reviewer

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For Open Education Awards 2026, from a seed of nomination, trees will be planted in the name of this award via One Tree Planted.

    About Open Practices Award

    Open Practices are collective behaviors and techniques that open up access to educational opportunities. These practices promote and support the use of open educational resources, technologies and social networks to facilitate collaborative and flexible teaching and learning.