Ever wonder what textbooks cost? Well, at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), they don’t have to cost anything. The university launched a suite of arts courses in November 2017 with zero textbook costs. The new initiative, dubbed Zed Cred, provides students with more than 50 courses where textbook costs have been eliminated by using open educational resources, and/or free library materials.
The courses, including English, psychology, history, sociology, philosophy, and others, can be applied to a broad range of university credentials. In fact, students are able to complete a 30 credit certificate in arts, via the suite of Zed Cred courses.
The program, Canada’s first of this nature, was developed with support from BC campus, an organization dedicated to supporting post-secondary institutions in the province, with an emphasis on open education and technology-enabled teaching. Prior to the launch of Zed Cred, KPU was already a leader in open textbooks—textbooks that have been published with an open license and are free of cost digitally. As of early 2017, KPU faculty had adopted open textbooks in almost 150 course sections, with an estimated savings to students of more than $400,000. Additional information about the Zed Cred program is available at kpu.ca/zedcred
For more than 30 years, Kwantlen Polytechnic University has provided students with the skills they need for the careers they want. KPU offers a range of degree, diploma, certificate, and citation programs with opportunities for hands-on experience and experiential learning. Why stop at theory, when you can also harness the power of experience? Launch your career and make a positive impact on your community with experiential learning at KPU: where thought meets action.
To learn more visit kpu.ca or contact the Future Students’ Office at 604.599.3030 or study@kpu.ca
