Open Education at The University of Edinburgh

Portrait of a smiling woman in a striped shirt, shown in black and white with a geometric pattern background. Text reads: Her commitment to language and learning is leaving a global impact. 2025 Wikimedian of the Year Honorable Mention Nitesh Gill contributes to Punjabi Wikipedia and strengthens the movement through training, translation, and outreach.

“My simple advice is: be dedicated, stay curious, and always respect those who guide you, whether they teach you a tool, a process, or just offer encouragement. We all start somewhere, and starting with good intentions always leads to meaningful outcomes, even if the results come later than expected.”

In 2014, Nitesh Gill made her first Wikipedia edit. She soon took on the #100wikidays challenge, writing an article daily. Her dedication enriched Punjabi Wikipedia, especially women’s biographies. Nitesh’s story shows how one person’s effort can build a more balanced record of knowledge.

Research Informed OERs for Further Education, Higher Education, and CPD Continuing our research led focus for Open Education Week '26, this collection highlights excellent research informed OERs for Further Education, Higher Education, and continuous professional developm...

Continuing our research led focus for Open Education Week ’26, this collection highlights fab research informed OERs for Further Education, Higher Education, and continuous professional development CPD students and learners.
#OER #OEWeek #OEWeek26 #EduSky #AcademicSky
open.ed.ac.uk/research-inf...

In this year's Open Education Week theme of exploring the town square for open education, we have a collection of primary & secondary level OERs created from the research outputs of our academic community.
#OER #OEWeek #OEWeek26 #EduSky
open.ed.ac.uk/research-inf...

Black and white historical illustration of a Washington Lily (Lilium Washingtonianum purpureum). The image shows a tall, slender stem with multiple large, trumpet-shaped flowers and buds. The flowers are described as grand lilies, initially white and gradually turning purple. The background is plain and textured, highlighting the detailed petals and curved stamens. This botanical image emphasizes the elegant structure and developmental stages of the lily blossoms.

🌼 Retail price list of California bulbs /.
Ukiah, CA: Carl Purdy..

[Source]

Wikipedia's logo in rainbow colors, used to represent the LGBTQ community

Save the date! Our next edit-a-thon on LGBT+ history is this Friday, 27th February.

Book your spot now!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980171477...

#OER #lgbthistory #WikimediaUK

Open Education Week 2026 Open Education Week is fast approaching! The international celebration of all things open is taking place on 2 - 6 March, online and at schools, colleges and universities across the globe.  The theme ...

As part of our #OpenEducation AND #DigitalSkillsForStaff activities next week we're running 2 fab workshops for UoE staff:
- Diversifying the Curriculum with OER 2 March 2-3pm
- How to find and use Creative Commons licensed Open Educational Resources 4 March, 2-3pm
open.ed.ac.uk/open-educati...

Wikipedia's logo in rainbow colors, used to represent the LGBTQ community

Save the date! Our next edit-a-thon on LGBT+ history is this Friday, 27th February.

Book your spot now!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980171477...

#OER #lgbthistory #WikimediaUK

Illustration of a person lying on their stomach reading a book, appearing focused and engaged. Text reads: How do you edit Wikipedia? Luckily, there's a handy guide.

Every Wikipedia editor starts somewhere. Luckily, the Help:Directory makes the first step easy: it’s a collection of how-to pages and tutorials to guide volunteers through everything from creating categories to adding references.

We're hiring a paid UoE Undergraduate student internship this summer. ☀️
Create OER for teachers on our award-winning collection on TES Resources, AND work with the Design team to create & publish new open textbooks and eBooks.
Share with your UoE UG students!
portal.unitemps.com/Search/JobDe...

Illustration showing that you may upload original works like photos of public places, graphs, and useful objects.

Visual reminder that works created or inspired by others, like logos or TV screenshots, can't be uploaded.

Summary explaining you can upload your original works or public domain content, but not others’ work without permission.

Wikimedia Commons is a free, volunteer-built online media repository, and one of the world's largest collections of freely usable media. 

Learn how open licenses keep Commons free and fair ➡️ w.wiki/bk7

Ruini, Carlo. Anatomia del cavallo, infermita, et suoi rimedii. Call Number - 0041828

The first equine anatomy in English, published in 1683, includes 3 plates based on the same original as the bronze horse by Giambologna from the Torrie Collection.
Click through for more.
#OER #ChineseNewYear
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...

Horse and Zebra Cross Call Number - 0003107

Kung Hee Fatt Choy - happy Chinese New Year! The year of the horse!🔥🐎
We have a strong history of horse appreciation at UoE. Here's zoologist James Cossar Ewart (1851-1933) with a cross between a horse and a zebra, circa 1900.
#OER #ChineseNewYear
www.europeana.eu/en/item/9200...

Black and white historical illustration of a young plesiosaur skeleton displayed on metal stands. The plesiosaur has a long neck, small head with sharp teeth, a broad ribcage, and four paddle-like limbs. The skeleton is labeled as from Oxford Clay near Peterborough and is part of the Natural History Museum in London collection. The image is from a 1910 publication titled "Extinct monsters and creatures of other days." The overall composition showcases the complete plesiosaur fossil, emphasizing its marine reptile anatomy.

👹 Extinct monsters and creatures of other days
London: Chapman & Hall, 1910.

[Source]

HIV / AIDS Online Resources for Teachers Lothian Health Services Archive (LHSA) website packed with educational resources, images and audio visual material from their UNESCO-recognised HIV/AIDS collections (1983-2010). The website’s educatio...

Lothian Health Services Archive (LHSA) HIV / AIDs teacher's resources uses material from their UNESCO-recognised HIV/AIDS collections (1983-2010) for educational activities with 12 to 15 year olds.
#OER #LGBTHistoryMonth #LGBT #History #EduSky

open.ed.ac.uk/hivaids-onli...

Legal for 40 Years: A snapshot from someone who was there An open licensed video of the event 'Legal for 40 years: A snapshot from someone who was there'. Held by the University of Edinburgh's Staff Pride Network in 2021 on the anniversary of when the

February is UK's LBGT+ History month!
Our @uoestaffpride.bsky.social host insightful events including this one in 2021 on the 40th anniversary of when the legalisation of homosexual activities came into effect in Scotland on the 1st Feb 1981.
#OER #LGBTHistoryMonth
open.ed.ac.uk/legal-for-40...

Women in STEM Edit-A-Thon in celebration of Women’s History Month. A group of people are editing Wikipedia’s information about women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.

Did you know that only 1 in 3 researchers is a woman?
Let's empower both aspiring and experienced women scientists through open knowledge!
#OER #Womeninstem #womeninstemday

Celebrate LGBT history month - help write women onto Wikipedia! Join us to in a social and supportive workshop to write some brilliant queer women and allies onto Wikipedia!

In honour of LGBT History Month, our next Wikipedia: Women in Red edit-a-thon is about inspiring women from the Scottish queer community!

Join us on the 27th of February!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1980171477...

#OER #lgbthistory #WikimediaUK

Text reads: Wikipedia's goal has been to spread knowledge in every language. From the start. New language editions began forming just months after Wikipedia's launch. 25 years later, it's grown to over 300 versions.

By the end of 2001, Wikipedia already existed in 16 languages. Today, there are more than 300.

Celebrate this and other #Wikipedia25 milestones ➡️ wikipedia25.org/en/widening-...

HIV Informed – Scotland (IReSH) This is a recording of an Interdisciplinary Research in Sexual Health (IReSH) Network Meeting on the topic 'HIV Informed – Educational Resource for Scotland's Health and Social Care Workforce'. Rec...

Christopher Ward, National Operations Manager at Waverley Care, introduces HIV Informed – a new educational microsite designed to support Scotland’s health and social care workforce.
#OER #SexualHealth #ScottishHealth
@cmvm-edinburghuni.bsky.social
open.ed.ac.uk/hiv-informed...

Carved wooden netsuke of two figures in robes sitting back to back, one looking up and the other glancing sideways. Text reads: Civil disagreement isn't bad. It's an engine of progress. 

On Wikipedia, disagreement is not a setback. It’s part of how knowledge improves.

By inviting debate in the open, Wikipedia turns conflict into collaboration. 🧵⬇️ (1/2)

Flourish: Fighting for Feminist Cities Feminist Cities presents you with a podcast series called Flourish: Fighting for Feminist Cities. In this series, we conduct interviews with activists reimagining cities through a feminist lens and fi...

New podcast series 'Flourish: Fighting for Feminist Cities' reimagines cities through a feminist lens.
In this first episode Dr. Roxana Pessoa Cavalcanti interviews activists Carolina Peterli & Yasmin Curzi.
#OER #Activism #Politics #SocialScience
@uoe-sps.bsky.social
open.ed.ac.uk/flourish-fig...

A Bangladeshi local boy play with the national flower of Bangladesh which is called water lily. Text reads: Join Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 and share your culture with the world.

The Lazarim Carnival is a tradition that takes place in the village of Lazarim, in the municipality of Lamego, located in the Douro region of Portugal. It is known for the wooden masks that, together with the costumes, are the highlight of the celebration. Text reads: Submit photos, videos, and sounds that represent your community by 31 March.

Calling photographers from all around the world: Wiki Loves Folklore 2026 is here 📸

The annual media contest aims at documenting global cultural heritage. Submissions are open until 31 March. Get inspired ➡️ w.wiki/HeAf

Peter Aspinall Memorial Lecture In this recording OPENspace Research Centre honours the remarkable legacy of Professor Peter Aspinall with the first Peter Aspinall Memorial Lecture. This first memorial lecture highlights Professo...

In this recording the @edincollegeofart.bsky.social's OPENspace Research Centre honours the remarkable legacy of Professor Peter Aspinall contributions to the field of restorative environment research.
#OER #Psychology #Health #Wellbeing
open.ed.ac.uk/peter-aspina...

Black-and-white portrait of a man in a dark polo shirt, set against a colorful circular geometric background. His edits and engineering support readers in Nigeria and beyond. 2025 Wikimedian of the Year Honorable Mention Ammarpad has written widely, improved Hausa Wikipedia’s structure, and made over 900 contributions to MediaWiki.

"Wikipedia stands out as a global independent community that values neutrality, openness, learning, and collaboration to produce neutral and factual accounts of events in a way different from any other sources."

Ammarpad joined the Wikimedia community in 2015, starting with English articles about Nigerian topics. He champions neutrality, openness and collaboration. His work shows how technical skills and community organizing strengthen free knowledge for millions.

Legal for 40 Years: A snapshot from someone who was there An open licensed video of the event 'Legal for 40 years: A snapshot from someone who was there'. Held by the University of Edinburgh's Staff Pride Network in 2021 on the anniversary of when the

February is UK's LBGT+ History month!
Our @uoestaffpride.bsky.social host insightful events including this one in 2021 on the 40th anniversary of when the legalisation of homosexual activities came into effect in Scotland on the 1st Feb 1981.
#OER #LGBTHistoryMonth
open.ed.ac.uk/legal-for-40...

An illustration from the Wikimedia Foundation "A Wiki Minute" video on privacy. Text reads: How does Wikipedia protect your privacy? The world's free encyclopedia collects minimal data, lets you edit anonymously, and publishes transparency reports.

On Data Privacy Day, remember that Wikipedia collects minimal data, uses no ads or tracking, and publishes transparency reports.

Learn more (without being watched) ➡️ wikimediafoundation.org/who-we-are/t...

Brooklyn Museum Costume Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of the Brooklyn Museum, 2009; Gift of Mrs. Edward S. Harkness in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Greenman Stillman, 1931

Pouch
https://botfrens.com/collections/223/contents/96610

International Holocaust Remembrance Day Graphic

January 27 marks an annual Holocaust Remembrance Day that commemorates the liberation of concentration camps in 1945 and 6 million lives lost to the Nazi regime. We stand up for human rights and dignity.
#OER #NeverAgain #onthisday

U.S. Space Force graphic by Senior Airman Tiarra Sibley

The OER Service in 2025 2025 was an interesting year for the OER Service, especially with the range of new queries that arose from increased use of Generative AI tools across numerous new technologies, tools and services.

A wee look back at what we achieved and where the focus of our OER Service was in 2025!
#OER
open.ed.ac.uk/the-oer-serv...

A few of the 350+ slides used by theosophist and meteorologist Clement Lindley Wragge in various magic lantern lectures, with titles like: “A Voyage through the Universe” (1902), and “The Endless Universe and Eternal Life” (1918–22). More here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/w...