Open University

Open University is also the name of other institutions around the world. See Distance education or the Open Universities category for a list.

The Open University (OU) is the UK's 'open' learning university, established in 1969. The majority of students are based in the UK, but its courses are also studied in the rest of Europe, in Africa and the Far East. The administration is based at Walton Hall, Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, but has offices in each of its thirteen regions around the UK. The university awards undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, diplomas and certificates.

With more than 180,000 students enrolled (2005), including more than 25,000 students studying overseas, it is the largest academic institution in the UK by student number, and qualifies as one of the world's mega universities. Since it was founded, more than 3 million students have studied its courses. It was rated^* top University in England and Wales for student satisfaction in the 2005 UK government national student satisfaction survey.

Aims

The OU aims to provide a University for those wishing to pursue higher education on a part-time or distance learning basis, including disabled people, who are officially a priority group within the University. The British Government asked the Open University to continue the work of the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) when it was dissolved. The CNAA formerly awarded degrees at the polytechnics which have since become universities.

Foundation

The Open University was founded by the Labour government of Harold Wilson, based on the vision of Michael Young (later Lord Young of Dartington). Planning commenced in 1965 under Minister of State for Education Jennie Lee Ashridge, who led an advisory committee consisting of university vice-chancellors, educationalists and broadcasters.

Walter Perry (later Lord Perry) was appointed the OU's first vice-chancellor in January 1969. The election of the new Conservative government of Edward Heath in 1970 led to budget cuts under Chancellor of the Exchequer Iain Macleod (who had earlier called the idea of an Open University "blithering nonsense"). However the OU accepted its first 25,000 students in 1971, adopting a radical open entry policy and, for a university, radical teaching methods. At the time, the total 'traditional' University population in the UK was around 130,000.

Since its foundation, the OU has inspired the creation of many similar institutions around the world.

Governance

Professor Brenda Gourley was appointed as the fourth vice chancellor of the Open University in 2002.

Students

People from all walks of life and all ages take advantage of the OU; for most courses there are no entry requirements other than the ability to study at an appropriate level, though most postgraduate courses require evidence of previous study or equivalent life experience.

Approximately 70 percent of students are in full-time employment, often working towards a first (or additional) degree or qualification to progress or change their career, with over 50,000 being sponsored by their employer. The University is also popular with those who cannot physically attend a traditional university because they are disabled (most universities are inaccessible), abroad, in prison, serving in the armed forces, or looking after family members. About 10,000 ^* students have disabilities.

While most of those studying are mature students, the reduction in financial support for those attending traditional universities has also led to an influx of first-time undergraduates to the OU. In the 2003-2004 academic year, around 20 percent of undergraduates were under 25 years old, up from 12.5 percent in 1996-1997 (the year in which top-up fees were introduced) ^*. The OU works with some schools to introduce A Level students to OU study.

Teaching methods

The OU uses a variety of methods for distance learning, including written and audio materials, the internet, disc-based software and television programmes. Formerly broadcast on the BBC, these programmes are increasingly also supplied to students on DVD discs. Materials are composed of originally-authored work by in-house and external academic contributors, and from third-party materials licensed for use with OU students. For most courses, students are supported by tutors ('Associate Lecturers') who provide feedback on their work and may be available to them at face-to-face tutorials, by telephone, and/or on the internet. A number of short courses worth ten points are now available that do not have an assigned tutor but offer an online conferencing service (Internet Forum) where help and advice is offered through conferencing 'Moderators'.

Some courses have mandatory day schools. These are day-long sessions which a student must attend in order to pass the course. One example of such a course is the K301 - Advanced Certificate in Health Promotion - which has two mandatory day schools/workshops, focussing on communication skills, counselling and practical issues related to health promotion. Nevertheless, it is possible to seek excusal upon the basis of ill-health (or other extenuating circumstances), and many courses have no mandatory face-to-face component.

In the 1970s, TV was typically used to provide lectures, and the image of the OU lecturer in brown 'kipper-tie' and flared corduroy trouser became something of a national icon. OU programmes are generally now much more innovative, using documentary styles.

The OU now produces mainstream television and radio programming aimed at bringing learning to a wider audience. Most of this programming, including series such as Rough Science, are broadcast at peak times, while older programming is carried in the BBC Learning Zone. But in 2004 The OU announced it is to stop its late night programmes on BBC2 in 2006. The OU now plans to focus on mainstream programmes.

Teaching at the OU is rated as "excellent" by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. The English national survey of student satisfaction put the Open University in first place.

Amongst many famous staff and students, Anna Ford was once employed as an academic, Gordon Brown was a tutor, and Joan Armatrading is a graduate.

Undergraduate degrees

An OU undergraduate degree requires 300 credit points (360 for honours), with each course being attributed a number of points (usually 30 or 60) depending on the content in line with the UK credit accumulation transfer system. One point is generally considered to correspond to ten hours of student time (studying, attending optional lectures, and revising). Courses are also rated as levels 1, 2 or 3, roughly equating to first, second or third, and final year courses at traditional universities. Students generally do not undertake more than 60 points per year, meaning that an undergraduate degree will take at least six years to complete. With the exception of some degrees in fast moving areas (such as computing) there is generally no limit on the time which a student may take, although courses cannot be counted after a great number of years. 120 points is considered the equivalent of a year of full-time study. Students need special permission to take more than 120 points in a single year; such permission is not always granted.

Many OU faculties have now introduced short courses worth ten points. Most of these courses are taught online, and start on different dates throughout the year. They typically provide an introduction to their subject studied over a period of ten weeks. A few ten-point courses consist of one-week residential schools, with preparatory work, and a follow-up assignment after the school. Some science courses, which in themselves require only home study, have such residential courses associated with them in order to allow the student to gain practical experience in that field; typically, an award of degree or diploma will require attendance at both, but it is up to the student to decide whether he or she wishes to attend them in the same year.

Different courses are run at different times of the year, but, typically, a 30 or 60 point course will run from February through to October. Assessment is by both continual assessment (with, normally, four or eight assignments during the year) plus, for most, an examination at the end. Residential courses are often timed during vacations at conventional universities in order to take advantage of their facilities.

In addition to traditional academic degrees, the OU has a number of specialist courses for industry and the professions including teaching and the law.

Business school

The Open University Business School, founded in 1983, is the largest provider of MBAs in the UK, producing more graduates than all the rest of the business schools in the UK put together. Its courses are recognised by AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB.

Although the majority of students at the Business School are in the UK the courses are also available to students across Europe and in Asia.

Research

Like other UK universities, the OU actively engages in research. The OU's Planetary Sciences Research Institute has become particularly well known to the public through the Beagle 2 Mars space probe project led by Professor Colin Pillinger, head of the Institute.

The OU now employs over 500 people engaged in research in over 25 areas, and there are over 1,200 research students. It spends approximately £20 million each year on research, around £6 million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England, the remainder from external funders.

Degree Ceremonies

Unlike most UK universities the Open university does not have formal graduations, it will graduate all eligible students on a bimonthly basis. The OU however has degree ceremonies during May, June and July throughout Britain and Ireland, as well as one ceremony in Versailles. These ceremonies are presided over by a senior academic at pro-vice Chancellor level or higher, and have the normal ritual associated with a graduation ceremony, including academic dress, procession and mace.

Notable faculty

Jocelyn Bell - Physicist
Brian Goodwin - Biologist
Steven Rose - Biologist
Colin Pillinger - Planetary scientist
Jonathan Silvertown - Biologist
Robin Wilson - Mathematician
Ruth Finnegan - Anthropologist

In fiction

See Educating Rita for a fictional treatment of the OU.

Anne Bryce, a character in BBC sit-com Ever Decreasing Circles studied with the Open University, as did Sheila Grant, matriarch of Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. Yvonne Sparrow the wife of the lead character in Goodnight Sweetheart undertook a OU degree, and Bulman, the titular detective of an ITV spin-off from the series Strangers, was followed through his OU course during the series up to taking his final exams. Onslow, a character from Keeping up Appearances, watches Open University courses on television from time to time. One of the courses he watched was about black holes.

In Autumn 2006, Lenny Henry will star in Slings and Arrows, a one-off BBC television drama which he also wrote. It is about someone who falls in love while on an OU English Literature course (Henry is himself following an OU degree).

External links

Open University– Main website
- Open2 – Website supporting the Open University programmes on radio & television
- Open University – History of the Open University
- Open University – Business School
- Open University's Freedom of Information website
- Open University – Clubs

- Open University – Services for disabled students inc. Alternative Format material such as Braille, DAISY, PDF
H2G2 Open University Information at the BBC
COROUS – Corporate Open University Services

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