An institution of higher education, such as has been established in a number of countries, which enables students to study for a degree without attendance. Courses are usually based on a credit system, and the student graduates when sufficient credits have been amassed. The teaching is frequently carried out through correspondence units and broadcast or taped supporting programmes, though often with some face-to-face tutoring at local study centres. Attendance at a university-based summer school is a required component of many courses. Entry qualifications are often more permissively framed than in conventional universities, and in many cases no formal qualifications are required, because beginners can take foundation or access courses.
| Motto | Learn and Live | |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 1969 | |
| Type | Public | |
| Chancellor | Lord Puttnam | |
| Vice-Chancellor | Prof Brenda Gourley | |
| Students | 180,000 | |
| Undergraduates | 150,000 | |
| Postgraduates | 30,000 | |
| Location | (various), United Kingdom | |
| Campus | Various settings | |
| Colours |
|
|
| Affiliations | EADTU, MSACS | |
| Website | www.open.ac.uk | |
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 North and South America, in Africa and in Australasia/Asia.
With more than 180,000 students enrolled, 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 and 2006 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.
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).
Walter Perry (later Lord Perry) was appointed the OU's first vice-chancellor in January 1969.
Since its foundation, the OU has inspired the creation of many similar institutions around the world.
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.
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. 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. For most courses, students are supported by tutors ('Associate Lecturers') who provide feedback on their work and are generally available to them at face-to-face tutorials, by telephone, and/or on the internet.
Some courses have mandatory day schools. These are day-long sessions which a student must attend in order to pass the course.
Similarly, many courses have traditionally offered week long summer schools offering an opportunity for students to remove themselves from the general distractions of their life and focus on their study for a short time. Anecdotally speaking, it seems common for students not to be keen to attend these schools whilst in retrospect they often come to appreciate the intensive tutoring they receive as well as the close and prolonged contact with other like-minded students, regarding the schools as a highlight of their Open University experience.
Due to budget considerations, however, the university appears to be pursuing a policy of removing mandatory summer schools from courses. This is ameliorated in part by the introduction of some separate but complementary "Summer School" courses, in which a Summer School forms the main learning experience of the course. (See "Undergraduate Degrees" section.)
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.
The OU now produces mainstream television and radio programming aimed at bringing learning to a wider audience.
Teaching at the OU is rated as "excellent" by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education.
In October 2006 the OU joined the Open educational resources movement with the launch of OpenLearn.
Degrees
Undergraduate
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. Courses are also rated as levels 1, 2 or 3, roughly equating to first, second or third, and final year courses at traditional universities. 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.
Many OU faculties have now introduced short courses worth ten points. 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;
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.
In addition to traditional academic degrees, the OU has a number of specialist courses for industry and the professions including accountancy and the law.
Postgraduate
The Open University provides the opportunity to study for a PhD on a part time distance, or a full time on site basis in a wide range of disciplines.
Business school
The Open University Business School 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.
Although the majority of students at the Business School are in the UK the courses are also available throughout most of the world.
The first Diploma courses were developed from 1983, however the School did not become a separate entity until 1988;
Research
Like other UK universities, the OU actively engages in research.
The OU now employs over 500 people engaged in research in over 25 areas, and there are over 1,200 research students.
Degree ceremonies
Unlike most UK universities, degree ceremonies at the Open University are not the occasion on which degrees are formally conferred.
Notable current and former academics
Jocelyn Bell - Physicist Ruth Finnegan - Anthropologist Brian Goodwin - Biologist Colin Pillinger - Planetary scientist Arthur Marwick - Historian Steven Rose - Biologist Jonathan Silvertown - Biologist Robin Wilson - MathematicianNotable graduates
The OU has over 2 million alumni from all walks of life, including:
Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Lenny Henry, entertainer Myra Hindley, infamous Serial killer Craig Brown former Scotland managerIn fiction
The Open University has been featured in many film and television programmes.
Television characters have also folowed OU courses.
Onslow, a character from Keeping up Appearances, watches Open University programming on television from time to time. It is about someone who falls in love while on an OU English Literature course (Henry has himself completed an OU degree in English).
User Comments Add a comment…