Researchers and practitioners gathered at the Thet FOERBICO Interim Conference 2026 in Nuremberg to discuss a sustainable culture of sharing through Open Educational Resources (OER), particularly collaboration within OER communities.
Traditionally, many OER conferences focus on technical aspects, content creation, or the general benefits of open educational practices (OEP). In contrast, this event explored how OER communities work together in practice. The conference examined collaboration, structures, motivations, and challenges shaping these communities.
A central contribution came from the FOERBICO research project, which has been investigating OER communities in religious education since August 2024. The team presented initial findings on community dynamics, collaboration patterns, and institutional influences, offering a research-based foundation for discussion. Participants engaged with key questions such as: What types of OER communities exist? How do they collaborate in everyday practice? What roles do institutions like schools and churches play in their development? And how can barriers to participation be reduced?
Through a combination of research presentations, community perspectives, and interactive exchange, the conference highlighted the importance of openness, shared responsibility, and active participation. A key takeaway was that strengthening OER requires not only technical infrastructures, but also vibrant, well-supported communities and a strong culture of collaboration.
The event emphasized the need to connect OER more closely with OEP, positioning collaborative practices as a foundation for sustainable community development and future growth.
A full conference documentation is available online (in German only): https://oer.community/recap-foerbico-tagung-2026/
The FOERBICO project concludes with a final conference in spring 2027 at Goethe University Frankfurt. Those interested in participating or receiving further information are warmly invited to register via our [contact form](https://terminladung.uni-frankfurt.de/).
