The latest issue of JISC Inform, which was published yesterday, features several articles on the theme of openness.

In an article entitled “Open Doors” several JISC programme managers describes aspects of openness of importance to them and the programmes they manage.  Rachel Bruce, the Innovation Director of Digital Infrastructure Team, provides an overview of “How your digital infrastructure supports open learning and research” which introduces the following contributions:

• Amber Thomas on ‘Open resources’
• Neil Jacobs on ‘Open communication’
• Simon Hodson on ‘Open research data’
• Andy McGregor on ‘Open developer communities’
• Ben Showers on ‘Open standards’

In addition an article on “Making the most of the open web” provides advice from “three experts [who] discuss how to use the social web to increase traffic to your work and make it more discoverable“.  I have contributed a piece on blogging as an open practices, based on the approaches taken in publishing this blog. In addition Grace Owen, JISC Communications Coordinator, provides a video summary on “Running a successful hybrid event” and Steph Gray, director of Helpful Technology, gives a podcast providing advice for “colleges and universities embarking on their first use of digital communication tools such as Twitter and Facebook through to those who are well established and looking for the next new tech trend“.

Finally Jennifer Jones (@jennifermjones) describes a day in the life of an open researcher.

The importance of openness as a means of achieving institutional business objectives in teaching and learning, research and related areas on work are frequently addressed in this blog.  I’m therefore pleased to announce the launch of a series of guest blog posts which will be published on this blog tomorrow and next week which will address a range of aspects related to openness, including open research, open education resources, open scholarly practices and open licences.

Myself and the guest bloggers hope that these posts will encourage a discussion on the ways on which a variety of open practices can enhance the effectiveness and impact of activities which take place across the higher and further education sector.