Averaging 18 billion page views per month, Wikipedia is the 5th most visited website in the world. Not only that – its content has large, measurable effects on behavior. Wikipedia’s readers are not just students doing homework or friends settling an argument. Research shows that Wikipedia content affects tourism, scientific literature, and even judges’ legal rulings. That’s why it’s vital that subject-matter experts take part in updating and correcting Wikipedia’s content. Harness the power of the greatest public knowledge resource of our time. Or better yet, let us do so on your behalf.

How does this work?

1. Let’s chat.

Your institution curates important high-quality knowledge—in your publications, collections, or members. We believe your research and unique perspectives belong in Wikipedia, where it will play an important role in informing people making behavioral, voting, or even policy decisions. Think about your institution’s mission and current strategy. Do any of the following align with your goals?

 

Reach

Connect your research, collections, or data to a worldwide audience

Equity

Change the world’s perception of historical figures, better representing the diversity of your field

Impact

Influence behavior, decision-making, policy, and future scholarship

Service

Engage members, staff, or other stakeholders in a (fun!) act of public good

2. Next, we’ll collaboratively design your Wikipedia Initiative.

Now that we’ve connected to understand each other’s goals, we’ll work together to finalize the details of your custom Wikipedia Initiative. We’ll identify your target audience and narrowly define the topic of the Wikipedia pages your program participants will work to improve. As your Wikipedia Initiative consultants, we offer ideas based on Wikipedia’s content gaps and needs as well as your individual goals. Then we’ll make it happen on your behalf.

 

The kick-off to your Wikipedia Initiative may take the form of a 6-week online course or an in-person workshop. We’re flexible, so long as we can bring better knowledge to the world through this project. Whichever experience we land on together, we offer a Dashboard where you can follow the progress.

3. Then, Wiki Education takes it from there.

We’re experts on facilitating Initiatives that help people share their knowledge through Wikipedia. We’ll execute your Wikipedia Initiative, and you and your team can be as involved as you’d like. Here’s what the process might look like:

 

We agree to partner and define a basic scope of work together.
Wiki Education designs an Initiative that is impactful and fits your budget.
We set you up with a unique Dashboard to track your Initiative’s impact.
You share your impact with stakeholders.
Watch your Initiative grow and see the impact live on.
SO, LET’S CHAT

Our Director of Partnerships, Jami Mathewson, works personally with institutions to design boutique professional development courses that help achieve their goals while giving back to the world.

When subject-matter experts share their knowledge through Wikipedia and Wikidata:

 

Reach beyond the academy
Millions of people can access your institution’s research and/or collections
Scientists can measure the impact of their science communication
Experts can participate in public debates about their field
The 5th most-frequented website in the world reflects the Academy’s current understanding.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion
A greater diversity of people pursue STEM careers
Citations to BIPOC and women academics increase
You can measure the diversity of your collections over time and make meaningful DEIJ decisions
We tell the stories of BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals that have been historically excluded
Real-world impact
Policymakers have a better overview of accurate, up-to-date scholarship when making decisions
The public makes better-informed behavioral, medical, consumer, professional, and voting decisions
We preserve cultural heritage at risk of being lost to time, climate change, or conflict
Experts inform and inspire other scholars—not only through the Wikipedia pages but in scientific literature itself
Service to the community
Your members are engaged in a collaborative project for the public good
Your institution’s workflow is more accessible for remote employees
You’re part of the global movement to share data and knowledge
You can help fight misinformation and debunk conspiracy theories