25.11.2025, 18:00–19:45 o'clock (Europe/Berlin), Orange Room
This BarCamp session will offer a case study in how an OER created at NorQuest College in Edmonton, Canada has effective served multiple purposes and met the needs of divergent stakeholder groups. Initially conceived of as an effort to provide high-quality academic resources to students enrolled in the College's Settlement Studies (SETT) program, "Canadian Settlement in Action" has since evolved into a comprehensive collaboration between practitioners and educators in the field of settlement work.
In addition to serving as a viable textbook for several classes in the SETT program, this OER has also served as a resource for immigration and settlement service providers, government policy makers from across Canada, and a guide to intercultural competency in many different industries. It has been downloaded and cited by academics from around the world, and continues to be a very valuable resource for individuals seeking to understand patterns of migration and newcomer settlement from a Canadian perspective.
Above all else, a commitment to making this information freely accessible to any and all interested parties is central to this OER's creation, and this presentation will thus discuss the processes (and challenges) involved in bringing "Canadian Settlement in Action" to life.
Beginners, Advanced, Professionals
Additional information – Language of the session –English
Alexandru (Alex) Caldararu (he/him) is an Associate Chair and the Program Founder of the Settlement Studies Program at NorQuest College in ᐊᒥᐢᑿᒌᐚᐢᑲᐦᐃᑲᐣ (Amiskwacîwâskahikan) Treaty 6/Métis 4 Territory (Edmonton, Canada). Originally an immigrant from Romania, he has spent much of his life involved in movements for socio-economic equity/justice, and working in occupations that support the integration of newcomers to Canada. He has a Masters in Educational Policy Studies from the University of Alberta, and has served as the President of the NorQuest College Faculty Association (NCFA) and Vice-President (Internal) of the Alberta Colleges and Institutes Faculties Association (ACIFA).