NEWS

Western Sydney University and ProQuest Team to Offer eTextbooks to Students

Program provides no cost, simplified access to digital textbooks from more than 60 publishers to first year students

A ground-breaking collaboration between Western Sydney University and ProQuest provides digital textbooks for commencing university students through the University’s library, reducing the cost of education to students and increasing access to required learning materials.

One of the world's largest initiatives of its kind, Western Sydney University is differentiating itself from other universities by making etextbooks from 60 academic publishers available to students via Ebook Central, ProQuest’s innovative new ebook platform.

Working with ProQuest simplifies the provision of etextbooks to this large set of students and faculty. ProQuest manages connections with publishers to curate needed textbooks, managing rights and licenses. Delivery through Ebook Central provides a simple, modern user experience for students and faculty. The etextbooks can be used online or they can be downloaded onto the students' preferred devices, including smartphones and tablets.

Committed to improving learning outcomes for all students, Western Sydney University’s model removes a significant financial barrier to educational materials. “We put our students at the heart of everything we do here at Western Sydney University. Our students told us that purchasing the textbooks they needed was one of the bigger financial hurdles to studying, so we’re helping in a practical way,” said Angelo Kourtis, Western Sydney University’s Vice-President, People and Advancement.

“ProQuest is committed to partnering in creative ways for our customers to support the broader goals of their institutions. In this case, it’s a very real impact on student outcomes and accessibility to education,” said Kevin Sayar, Senior Vice President and General Manager, ProQuest Books. “By curating the textbook content, simplifying access for students and enabling the connections between the library and publishers, ProQuest is helping to build the foundation for extraordinary achievements.”

http://www.proquest.com