OSS Watch

OSS Watch was an advisory service based at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, dedicated to providing unbiased advice and guidance on the use, reuse, contribution to, and development of free and open source software (FOSS) for the UK Higher and Further Education sector. Its primary focus was to inform institutional decision-making about the strategic adoption of open source, with the ultimate goal of promoting cost-effective and sustainable IT solutions.

OSS Watch offered a range of resources and services, including:

• Case Studies: Documenting successful examples of open source adoption within educational institutions.
• Briefings and Guides: Providing clear, concise information on various aspects of open source, from licensing to community engagement.
• Events and Workshops: Organising training sessions and networking opportunities to facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Consultancy: Offering expert advice to institutions on specific open source projects or strategic initiatives.

The service was funded by Jisc (formerly the Joint Information Systems Committee) and played a significant role in shaping open source strategy within UK education. While OSS Watch is no longer active, its extensive archive of resources remains a valuable repository of information for understanding and implementing open source in educational contexts. These resources continue to be available through the Jisc website and other online archives. The core message promoted by OSS Watch emphasized informed decision-making based on a thorough understanding of both the benefits and potential challenges of using open source software.