The lack of educational resources in French remains a significant challenge in Francophone minority contexts. Consultations at the University of Ottawa since the Plan d’action pour la francophonie (2019) reveal that the problem persists and has an impact on the quality of the student experience. The Report of the National Dialogue on Postsecondary Education in a Francophone Minority Context (2022) also highlights the difficulties in accessing Canadian learning materials in French that are both affordable and adapted to the realities of Francophone communities outside Quebec. The report notes that the scarcity of this material reduces the relevance of learning opportunities as well as the possibilities for identity formation. It also emphasizes that professors are often forced to develop their own resources, frequently in isolation and with limited support.
To bridge this gap, the Library is launching the Subvention REL with financial support of the Office of the Associate Vice-President (Francophonie) and administrative support from the Digital Learning Strategy steering committee. It will award up to $25,000 per project to support the adapted translation or creation of open educational resources in French for courses offered in that language at the University of Ottawa.
Members of the APUO and the APTUO who will adopt the proposed OER in one or more courses on an ongoing basis may submit a proposal. Based on current availability and program offerings in Ontario’s French-language postsecondary institutions, the following disciplines have been identified as priorities: business administration and economics, health sciences and technology, engineering, social sciences and humanities (particularly transferable concepts and frameworks), and common law. Modularity that would allow the resource to be more easily used across multiple disciplines or elsewhere in the Canadian Francophonie with subject-specific, linguistic, or cultural adjustments is strongly encouraged.
Producing OER in French addresses a need for educational resources while actively contributing to the vitality and visibility of knowledge in French. As Yves Pelletier, Associate Vice-President (Francophonie), explains: “In a world where knowledge is a driver of economic, social, and cultural development, open educational resources are a powerful tool for equity. They open doors to learning for everyone, reduce barriers to academic success, and promote the creation, sharing, and dissemination of knowledge in French. By helping to bridge the persistent gap in French-language educational resources, they enhance access to knowledge and support the University of Ottawa’s commitment to the development and dissemination of knowledge in French, in accordance with the spirit of Academic Regulation A-1 on bilingualism.”
- For full details and to submit a proposal, please consult the call.
- For questions or to schedule an appointment with the librarian responsible for OER to discuss your project, contact: [email protected]
- Proposals will be accepted until November 27, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.