From Wiki Club to University-Wide Learning Model: Institutionalizing Wikimedia-Based Education at St Aloysius (Deemed to be) University, India

Abstract

The growing importance of digital literacy, collaborative learning and open knowledge creation has created new opportunities for higher education institutions to integrate Wikimedia projects into teaching and learning. Beyond serving as an information resource, platforms such as Wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons, Wikidata and Wikisource enable students to participate in authentic knowledge creation, develop research and information-evaluation skills, and contribute to publicly accessible knowledge. This paper examines the institutionalisation of Wikimedia-based education at St Aloysius (Deemed to be) University, Mangaluru, India, focusing on the transition from student-led Wiki Club activities towards a university-wide learning model. The study aims to explore student awareness and perceptions of Wikimedia-based learning, document institutional practices, identify opportunities and challenges associated with curriculum integration, and propose a sustainable framework for implementation. It adopts an institutional case-study approach, drawing on an original student questionnaire dataset and documented Wikimedia education activities conducted at the university. The findings are intended to examine students' awareness, participation, perceived educational benefits and willingness to engage in Wikimedia activities as part of their academic learning. Based on the institutional experience and student responses, the paper proposes a seven-component university-wide model encompassing institutional commitment, curriculum integration, student-led coordination, faculty mentoring, structured training, authentic knowledge contribution, and assessment and recognition. The study offers a practice-oriented framework that other higher education institutions can adapt to promote open educational practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, multilingual knowledge creation and meaningful student participation in the global knowledge ecosystem.