QLD TAFE to digitally manage copyright

In what is being touted as a first for Australian TAFE institutions, the Open Learning Institute of TAFE Queensland (OLI) is using a new digital delivery system to licence learning resources through an agreement with Copyright Agency Limited (CAL).

The system aims to provide OLI with easy access to learning materials from a variety of publishers while simultaneously managing content licencing.

"The initiative offers OLI the opportunity to compile digital course materials by using different publishing sources. The approach allows for OLI and the publisher to have more flexibility with copyright licencing requirements,” said Michael Fraser, CEO at CAL.

The system works by providing a searchable archive of content accessible via the internet. As OLI staff compile resources into course materials, pricing and licencing arrangements are recorded for each resource, streamlining the reporting and accounting requirements institutions traditionally have to manage.

"This is the first time a TAFE institute in Australia has provided digital course materials through this voluntary licence scheme,” said Chris Robinson, deputy director-general at the Queensland Department of Employment and Training.

“[The project] worked through issues like security of digital files, aggregation and printing of books of readings, tracking usage and the process for payment to Copyright Agency Limited.”

The agreement follows a successful trial of the system with content licenced and supplied by publisher, John Wiley & Sons Australia. CAL and OLI aim to include even more publishers in the future.

"The system is open to all publishers and CAL and OLI are speaking with a number of publishers to extend the range of content," said Fraser.