The in-house collaborative teaching scheme is an innovative model that was developed by the OU’s Faculty of Health & Social Care. Through partnership, employers, organisations and groups are able to deliver high quality learning opportunities in their own setting. Under the scheme, an employer identifies suitably qualified members of staff to fulfil an OU Associate Lecturer role and support the learning and assessment of an OU course delivered in-house. Teaching and learning can take place in workplaces and community settings in exciting and effective ways to meet the needs of individuals, employers, organisations and communities.
Running since 1997, the in-house teaching scheme has a track record of developing people and helping management to meet strategic aims in a range of contexts across a range of sectors and settings – including several healthcare Trusts and local authorities.
The benefits of this approach include:
- greater flexibility and ownership of the delivery of OU courses, including the potential to flex group tutorials to address local priorities, policies and procedures
- the option of locating the course in the context of a broader staff development plan or local workforce initiative
- cost savings on OU course fees in recognition of the employer’s contribution to tuition and no minimum number of students in a course group
- access to personal and professional development opportunities offered by the OU by designated Associate Lecturers appointed through the collaborative teaching scheme.
As well as the clear benefits for students, there are benefits for the professional development of senior staff. Colleagues with a lecturer-practitioner role or a recognised teaching qualification may welcome this opportunity. Partnership working offers colleagues the opportunity to be appointed by the OU as a part-time Associate Lecturer, combining their tutorial and student support activity with their existing role, thereby developing themselves and staff.