Open Educational Resources at BUV Library
Open Educational Resources at BUV Library
Welcome to the British University Vietnam Library’s guide to Open Educational Resources (OER).
This curated collection connects you with high-quality, freely accessible materials to enhance your teaching, learning, and research experience — all part of BUV’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation.
What Are Open Educational Resources (OER)?
Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials published under open licenses.
They allow you to freely use, adapt, remix, and share content — from full courses, course materials, modules, textbooks, videos, tests, software, and other tools, materials, or techniques used to support access to knowledge.
Most OER are licensed under Creative Commons (CC), giving clear permissions on how content can be used — while respecting the creator’s rights.
Note: Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Access Resources are related but distinct concepts. OER specifically refers to teaching and learning materials released under open licenses, while Open Access Resources is a broader term encompassing scholarly articles, research papers, and academic content that is freely available. This guide includes both OER and Open Access resources relevant to BUV programs.
Why Use OER?
OER empower learners and educators with flexible, accessible, and cost-effective resources.
Expanded Access
Students can access OER anytime, anywhere — on smartphones, tablets, or laptops. No login or paywall. Revisit materials as often as needed, supporting self-paced and lifelong learning.
Scalability
OER can be shared freely across classrooms, institutions, and borders. Ideal for collaborative teaching and expanding access to quality education.
Enhanced Learning
With diverse formats — from videos to quizzes and simulations — OER support different learning styles and help reinforce key concepts.
Faster Updates
Unlike traditional textbooks, OER can be updated instantly. Keep your course content accurate, timely, and aligned with current trends.
Showcase Innovation
Share your teaching materials globally. Build your academic profile and contribute to the global education community.
Continuous Improvement
Adapt, translate, or remix OER based on student feedback. Turn good resources into great ones — together.
Cost Savings
Eliminate textbook costs for students. Ensure everyone has access to course materials from the first day of class.
The 5R Permissions of OER
OER materials unlock five powerful freedoms that transform how we interact with educational content:
- Retain – the right to make, own and control copies of the content
- Reuse – the right to use the content in a wide range of ways (e.g., in a class, in a study group, on a website, in a video)
- Revise – the right to adapt, adjust, modify, or alter the content itself (e.g., translate the content into another language)
- Remix – the right to combine the original or revised content with other open content to create something new (e.g., incorporate the content into a mashup)
- Redistribute – the right to share copies of the original content, your revisions, or your remixes with others (e.g., give a copy of the content to a friend)
Source: “The 5Rs of Openness” by David Wiley is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Image credit: 5R permissions of OER snipped from Go open: a beginners guide to open education by Farrell, O. et al. CC BY 4.0
Understanding Creative Commons Licenses
Most OER use Creative Commons (CC) licenses. These let creators specify how others can use their work.
Here are the six main types — from most to least permissive:
CC BY
Attribution: You can copy, redistribute, remix, and build upon the work — even commercially — as long as you credit the creator.
CC BY-SA
ShareAlike: You may adapt and use commercially, but any new work must be licensed under the same terms.
CC BY-NC
NonCommercial: You may remix and adapt, but only for non-commercial purposes.
CC BY-ND
NoDerivatives: You may share the work, but not modify it in any way.
CC BY-NC-SA
NonCommercial + ShareAlike: You may adapt, but only for non-commercial use and under the same license.
CC BY-NC-ND
Most restrictive: You may only share the original work for non-commercial purposes — no changes allowed.
Image credit: “Icons” by Font Awesome, Creative Commons is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Source: Creative Commons website.
Top OER & Open Access Resources
Explore these trusted, high-quality platforms for open textbooks, journals, books, and data:
Open Data & Statistics
Official statistical data on Vietnam’s export, import, and trade balance — regularly updated and publicly accessible.
Access Data
Official documents, trade statistics, economic research, publications, videos, and audio from the WTO’s councils and committees.
Visit WTO Resources
Free and open access to global development data, including economic indicators, poverty metrics, and sustainable development statistics.
Explore World Bank DataExplore Open Educational Resources
A non-profit, adaptable platform trusted by educators for creating, customizing, and sharing interactive textbooks, homework, and course materials.
Visit LibreTexts
Free, peer-reviewed textbooks licensed for use and adaptation. Download, edit, and distribute at no cost.
Browse Textbooks
A vast collection of open books and resources in hospitality and tourism — ideal for business and management studies.
Explore Hospitality OER
Discoverable and freely accessible scholarly content, including journals, books, and primary sources from around the world.
Access JSTOR
A community-driven service that indexes peer-reviewed, open access academic books and helps you find trusted publishers.
Search DOAB
A comprehensive index of quality, peer-reviewed open access journals across disciplines and regions.
Browse DOAJ
Open access journals in science, technology, medicine, humanities, and social sciences — peer-reviewed and freely available.
Visit SpringerOpen
Leading research in business, computer science, and social sciences — freely accessible and up to date.
Explore ScienceDirect
A peer-reviewed, “Gold” open access journal publishing original research and review articles across disciplines.
Read SAGE OpenHow to Cite OER
OER must be cited properly — just like any academic source.
Accurate attribution ensures academic integrity and meets license requirements.
When citing OER:
- Follow standard citation formats (Harvard, APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) based on your assignment requirements
- Include permanent URLs when available to ensure others can locate the resource
- Note the Creative Commons license if relevant to your usage
- Include access date for online resources that may change over time
For specific formatting guidance:
- Consult the BUV Library Citation Guide
- Use citation management tools like Zotero or Mendeley (free options)
- Look for the “Cite this” button available in many of the resources listed above
Suggest a Resource
Your input helps us improve our OER collections. Know of a valuable resource we should include?
Please:
Fill Out the Form
Submit the title, link, and details of the resource using our online suggestion form.
Submit SuggestionEmail Us
Send your recommendation directly to our team at library@buv.edu.vn.
Speak with a Librarian
Discuss your suggestion in person during your next visit to the library.