Sydney University Press releases Australia's first free open access politics textbook

The cover of 'Australian Politics and Policy', which features a silhouette of the Parliament House flagpole against a brick wall.
06/12/2019

Australia’s first free, open access politics textbook Australian Politics and Policy, was launched last week.

'During a time of escalating national and international debate concerning important issues such as climate change, having a structural understanding of political systems and policy making has never been more important,' said Sydney University Press’ Publishing Manager Agata Mrva-Montoya.

The project, spearheaded by Mrva-Montoya, was developed in collaboration with the University of Sydney Library. Following a pilot project and an EOI in 2017, the textbook was created over two years by nine editors led by Dr Peter Chen. The book contains 40 chapters, written by over 60 academics from across Australia.

According to a media release accompanying the launch, 'the book is free to use, and its creative commons licence permits the content to be redistributed, redeveloped, adapted and shared – all completely free.'

The open access format means that users can read the textbook online, download PDF and ePub files for offline reading. The digital format of the book also lends itself to 'remixing'.

'You don't have to present all forty chapters to your students, of course. You can pick and choose and build the course around your particular objectives in a package of learning,' said Professor Rodney Smith.

'It was so original we didn't even know how to even get started for about six months from a technology perspective,' said Lisa McIntosh, Director of University Libraries, at the launch event held at the Sydney University Press office.

'It was done on a shoestring,' said McIntosh. 

Lisa McIntosh, Peter Chen, Pip Pattison, Agata Mrva-Montoya, Susan Murray standing from left to right smiling at the camera in the basement of University of Sydney's Fisher Library. A glass door is in the background with leafy surroundings.
From left to right; Lisa McIntosh, Peter Chen, Pip Pattison, Agata Mrva-Montoya, Susan Murray

While the scale of collaboration is significant - so is the technological savvy. The platform for the digital textbook uses the information architecture built for a new Sydney University Press platform for its open access books.

The textbook has been released in print, and like other Sydney University Press books, subject to 'anonymous and rigorous peer review' according to the project summary.

The junior and senior versions of Australian Politics and Policy are now available, view the chapters and read online here.

 

____