(Textbooks image via Shutterstock)
WINNIPEG — The hefty price of post-secondary textbooks in Manitoba will soon be reduced for students with a new online program.
The Open Textbook Initiative provides material licensed under open copyright licenses to students, teachers and members of the public. Through the new initiative, faculty members will be able to provide content in the highest-enrolled academic subject areas.
“This is a positive step forward being undertaken by the provincial government,” said Michael Barkman, chair of the Canadian Federation of Students–Manitoba.
“Students will benefit from this new initiative and we look forward to continue to work together in order to achieve more accessible, affordable and high-quality post-secondary education in Manitoba.”
Campus Manitoba will deliver the program using content currently available through BCcampus, with the province providing funding for faculty and instructors to conduct peer reviews of the material.
The current library contains more than 80 textbooks and will expand by another 50 volumes this fall.
