The OERu Outreach Partnership Programme is a charitable initiative that aims to create partnerships with institutions in the developing world committed to adopting and improving open education practices and that share our goal of more sustainable education on a global scale.
This topic is used for general discussion and questions about the Outreach Partnership Programme.
“At this time, for-profit private institutions do not qualify for participation in the OERu Outreach Partnership. Private institutions are invited to consider joining the OERu network as fee-paying partners.”
This bit is rather unfortunate for us, since we’re incorporated as a proprietary entity for regulatory reasons, but in reality are a social enterprise that makes no profit.
As a social enterprise, does your constitution restrict private pecuniary profit for individuals or other organisations? What are the provisions in the winding-up clauses with reference to distribution of assets of the corporation?
Of course, as OER your organisation is free to reuse any of OERu’s courses and you would be free to offer assessment services on a fee for service basis.
Hi @Mackiwg
As a social enterprise, does your constitution restrict private pecuniary profit for individuals or other organisations?
Not at all. We don’t take the ideological position that profit is antisocial so long as all stakeholders are consulted and respected. In fact, part of what we do is to encourage education entrepreneurs in low income countries to set up learning centres so they can partner with us in what we’re doing.
What are the provisions in the winding-up clauses with reference to distribution of assets of the corporation?
As it stands now, creditors, then shareholders. We’re debating using a slightly more complicated structure in which the shareholder would become a non-profit organisation as a way to have our regulatory cake and eat it too as an NGO.
Of course, as OER your organisation is free to reuse any of OERu’s courses and you would be free to offer assessment services on a fee for service basis.
Fair enough, and vice versa. We have some EPUB versions of textbooks coming out in the next few months, including one on Business Maths, and a few more of the rescued FWK textbooks.
Hi Steve,
I like the model of supporting edupreneurs in low income countries to establish learning centres to partner with your initiative.
Smart thinking - I can see the benefits of this model.
The OERu network recognises the value of non-financial contributions. Your initiative has a proven track record in open education and in this regard, there is strong alignment of the DNA of our respective organisations. Let’s keep the conversation open and think about how our organisations can work together for mutual benefit. More than happy to find a suitable time for a web call to explore opportunities.