newsletter

Welcome to the Autumn edition of the O U S A (Open University Students Association) in Scotland newsletter. As an O U student you are automatically a member of O U S A, the representative body for the O U’s students.

O U S A in Scotland’s primary responsibility is the representation of Scotland’s 16,000 O U students, both within the University and amongst other higher education sector agencies. We aim to ensure that the student voice is heard at all levels and that our viewpoint is taken into account during the decision making process.

There is also a social and support aspect to O U S A and a number of informal student groups have been established within Scotland for this purpose. Read on for further information on these groups and how you can become a part of O U S A in Scotland.

Dates for Your Diary

1^st October                  Scottish Islands Student Group meet up at the Woodlands Cafe, Stornoway from 3pm. Contact Jane js23992@my.open.ac.uk.

4^th October                  Edinburgh Social Group pub night at Milne’s Bar, Hanover St/Rose St from 6pm onwards. Contact Kitty kittyjohnstone@yahoo.com.

21^st October    Aberdeen and North East social evening at the Station Hotel, Aberdeen from 7.30pm. Contact Rob robmackay60@hotmail.com.

If you need this newsletter in another format please contact ousa@student.open.ac.uk

Student Groups

O U S A in Scotland has set up a number of informal student groups. These groups are all run on an informal basis by students for students and are free to join. Some of the groups have regular face to face meet ups, others operate by means of web forums whilst others use a mix of methods Being informal there is no requirement for officers and committee members so you can join in, safe in the knowledge that you will not get your arm twisted into taking on a committee position!. Take a look at what is on offer and get in touch with the relevant group co-ordinator if you would like to find out more.

 Scottish Islands Group

Members of the Islands’ group have been continuing to enjoy speaking online with fellow students from their own and different islands. Students are able to share experiences and support each other. A wide variety of topics are discussed, ranging from personal interests to study issues. Sometimes we just enjoy a light hearted chat! This is a very friendly group and new members are always welcome. Students who join this group can access it in Shared Activities online forums, via the Student Home page.

Monthly social ‘meet ups’ have been taking place in Stornoway. Those of us who live on the Isle of Lewis have benefited from being able to get together with other students who live in the local area. These ‘meet ups’ take place on the first Saturday of every month in the Woodlands cafe at 3pm. The next one is due to take place Saturday the 1st of September. Please come along if you are interested. All students are welcome.

If you would like to arrange an O U 'meet up' for your island, please get in touch. A couple of our students from Mull and Skye are particularly keen to meet others who live nearby and would love for more students from these areas to get in contact.

If you would be interested in joining or would like more information about the ‘meet ups’ please email Jane Smith at js23992@my.open.ac.uk

Aberdeen and North East Scotland Social Group
This group aims to keep O U students in our area in touch with each other and support each other when the studying gets a little tough. You can ask local O U students about their own learning experiences, find out about courses you might like to try and find out more about local and national O U events. We also have occasional face-to-face social meetings in Aberdeen but we are open to suggestions about where and when to meet up. In the past we have had meals, concerts and hill-walks so please keep coming up with good ideas. 
The next meeting is going to be on Friday, 21st October. It will be a post-exam social commencing at 7.30pm at the Station Hotel, Aberdeen. All O U students and friends are welcome.  
You can contact the group through our forum on O U S A Scotland at http://learn.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/view.php?id=591531 or contact me at robmackay60@hotmail.com
Rob Mackay 29.8.11 

Edinburgh Social Group

The Edinburgh Social Group meets in Milne's Bar on Rose Street on the first Tuesday of each month. Our table is booked from 5.30; while most people arrive later, some of the group come straight from work and have a meal; having the table booked ensures we get one. 

Getting together around the table at Milne's is a little like being in the Union at a brick University. The conversation(s) range from the weather (well, it is Scotland, after all) to course work, to where could we go for an outing, and all points in between.

Just as in the traditional Students' Union there is the opportunity to meet people from other faculties, and in so doing you might find new interests and supportive new friends. Members of the Group come from a variety disciplines and are of varied ages and backgrounds.

We are always open to new ideas for activities to be undertaken as a group or places of interest to visit. In the past, for instance, we've gone on visits to three different castles (pertinent to many disciplines) and sampled real ales at a C A M R A festival (not so pertinent to the studies, but enjoyable and interesting all the same). Come along and join in – we're in Milnes Rose Street Bar, usually with a notice printed with the O U logo and O U S A , and we'd love to welcome you whether you are a new student or an old hand. By the way, Milne's is accessible for people with mobility issues and there is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. In addition to alcoholic beverages they serve food, coffees and teas, and a range of soft drinks. Contact us on kittyjohnstone@yahoo.com.

What brings together students from Argyll, Caithness, Dumfries, Dundee, East Lothian, Highlands, Inner Hebrides, Outer Hebrides, Scottish Borders, and even ex-pats in North Africa?
Well apart from being remote to each other - they are all part of the O U S A Scottish Remote Students group. This is a group of O U students in Scotland - sixteen and growing - who regards themselves as being remote and want to keep in touch with other students. Whether to discuss the problems facing O U students in their locations - or situations; or to share experiences on their courses and find fellow students doing the same; or just to have an opportunity to let off steam - often when the only person that understands is at the other end of the inter web.
Broadband speed and availability, online courses, tutorial access, rurality reports and even the weather have been some of the more formal topics so far, but there are no limits to the imagination of this group or to membership.
Find us in the O U S A Forums for further details and to request to join at :
OUSA-STUDENTS ▶ OUSA Regional and national forums ▶ OUSA Scotland ▶ OUSA Scottish remote students group or http://learn.open.ac.uk/mod/forumng/view.php?id=591536.

O U S A Scotland Student Groups Contact Details

Aberdeen and North East Social Group      Rob               robmackay60@hotmail.com

Glasgow Social Group                                 Amish           aa6292@my.open.ac.uk

Edinburgh Social Group                               Kitty              kittyjohnstone@yahoo.com

Proposed Inverness Social Group                Keith             keithgreene771@yahoo.ie

South West Scotland Student Network        George         gm266@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Islands Group                                 Jane              js23992@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Remote Students Group                 Stuart            smw75@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Disability Network                         Adrian           afd22@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish L G B T T Network                          George         gm266@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Postgraduate Group                       George         gm266@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish M C T Network                               George         gm266@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Arts Network                                  Carole           cpb45@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish MAC Users Group                          Ruth              rt974@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Photography Group                        Ruth              rt974@my.open.ac.uk

Scottish Theatres Group                              Stuart            smw75@my.open.ac.uk

Higher Education News

After what seems like a long wait the O U have announced their new fee structure for students registered in England. You may have seen references to these new fee levels of £2500 for a 60 point course. We must stress that these fees DO NOT apply to students registered in Scotland. Here in Scotland, the O U is funded directly by an organisation known as the Scottish Funding Council (S F C) which is the public body responsible for distributing Scottish Government funds to higher and further education institutions. The course fees that we as students pay, are subsidised by a grant that the OU in Scotland receives from the S F C. The equivalent public funding that the O U receives to subsidise students registered in England is being withdrawn and it is this that is leading to the massive fee increases. Fortunately the Scottish public funding will continue for the foreseeable future and we will not be subject to these increases. However, please do not forget that we will be subject to the usual annual inflationary rises.

There are transitional arrangements being put in place for current students affected by these changes to allow them to continue their studies at the current fee levels. However, there are quite strict criteria to qualify for the transitional fees. If you are likely to be moving to England in the near future we would strongly advise you to check out the details as soon as possible. Please see www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012/currently-studying for more information.

This would seem a good opportunity to remind you of some of the financial support that is available for students in Scotland.

Part-time Fee Waiver scheme

Available to students with a low household income to cover the full cost of course fees. It is not available for post-graduate and some professional courses. Apply directly to the O U in Scotland.

I L A 200

This is available to any student with a personal income of £22000 or less. It provides up to £200 towards your fees in any one year. Details available at www.ilascotland.org.uk.

Part-time Fee Grant (formerly known as I L A 500)

This provides up to £500 a year towards course fees for students with a personal income of £22000 or less and who are studying at least 40 credit points in the year. It is now administered by S A A S (Student Awards Agency Scotland). More information available at www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/.

Anyone up for University Challenge?

To take your mind off T M As, E M As, exams and results why not apply to join the O U University Challenge team?

O U S A is now starting the process of organising a team for the next series of University Challenge, one of the most challenging quiz programmes currently on television. To be eligible to apply you need to be a current student of the Open University and expect to be studying next year.       
If you fancy making an appearance on television, would enjoy the chance to flex those brain cells and the opportunity to enhance your university's reputation please email your name and PI number to s.j.carter@open.ac.uk who will keep your details on file and send you an application form when they become available later in the year.
Those interested will be asked to take part in O U S A's selection process, with the successful applicants being required to attend an interview and be available for filming if the team gets to the televised stage. More details will be posted once they become available.

Past Exam Papers

As we start to approach the main exam season you may find it helpful to have access to past papers for your course. Under an arrangement with the O U, O U S A is able to sell copies of many past papers with all proceeds going towards O U S E T (the student charity). Papers are available either as hard copy by post or as P D Fs for download. Please see http://www.open.ac.uk/ousa/exam_papers.php for more information and online ordering or order via the automated telephone service on 0870 013 4334. Prices start at £1.25 per paper. Due to copyright reasons, unfortunately papers are not available for all courses. Model answers are not provided.

O U S E T was established in 1982 to provide assistance to students in financial need but who did not qualify for any other means of financial support. For more details of who can benefit or to make a donation please see http://www.open.ac.uk/ousa/ouset.php.  

Contacting O U S A in Scotland

  Email:                                            ousa-ecm-scotland@open.ac.uk or

                                                      regional-forum@ousascotland.org.uk

Telephone:                                    01908 652026      

 Post:                                              O U S A in Scotland, P O Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BE

Websites:                                       www.ousa.org.uk and www.ousanearyou.org.uk/r11.htm

 Facebook:                                      www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=114085388633021

Platform:                                       www8.open.ac.uk/platform/groups/open-university-students-association-in-scotland

Don’t forget to visit our online forums at http://learn.open.ac.uk/mod/resourcepage/view.php?id=566353

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter from O U S A in Scotland.

If you require further information please do get in touch with us.

Open University Students Association in Scotland March 2011 Newsletter

Welcome to the O U S A (Open University Students Association) in Scotland newsletter. Read on to find out more about what is happening in your Association and how you could join us for a weekend at our annual conference, become a student representative or spend a week as a residential school representative. Also in this issue is an update on the latest funding news, how to find us online, information on our Islands Student Group and details of paid work placements within the voluntary sector. If you would like more information on O U S A or any of the articles in this newsletter please do get in touch.

Kitty and Susan, your newsletter editors.

Contacting O U S A in Scotland

Email:            regional-forum@ousascotland.org.uk  or ousao33@guest.open.ac.uk

Telephone:  01908 652026         

Post:               OUSA Office, P O Box 397, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6BE

Websites:       www.ousa.org.uk and www.ousanearyou.org.uk

Dates For Your Diary

12th March                Scottish Islands Group Stornoway meet up

Get together for students at the Woodlands Cafe, Stornoway at 11:30am. Contact Jane for more information on js23992@my.open.ac.uk.

26th March                O U S A in Scotland Seminar, Stirling (tbc)

Training for Conference Delegates and presentation by O U Policy and Public Affairs Manager. Visitors welcome by arrangement. Contact Ruth regional-forum@ousascotland.org.uk by the 14th March.

26th March               Edinburgh Social Group visit to Stirling Castle

Meet 11am at Stirling Railway Station. Some free castle tickets available on a first come first served basis. Pub lunch afterwards. Contact Alison amm945@student.open.ac.uk or see the Edinburgh forum on the FirstClass system and OUSA Edinburgh group on Facebook.

5th April                     Edinburgh Social Group Pub Night

Milnes Bar, Hanover Street (access from Rose Street) from 6pm onwards in the upstairs ground level bar (disabled access). Contact Alison amm945@student.open.ac.uk or see the Edinburgh forum on the FirstClass system and OUSA Edinburgh group on Facebook.

15th – 17th April       O U S A Annual Conference Milton Keynes

Read on for more information on how you can be a delegate at this year’s O U S A Conference.

Final Call for Conference Delegates

We still have a few spaces available for Scottish delegates to the annual O U S A student Conference. Would you like the opportunity to participate in the workings of your Association and help formulate its policy for the coming year?

Conference 2011 will be taking place at the O U campus in Milton Keynes over the weekend of 15^th to 17^th April. Ideally you need to be able to arrive at the venue for about 5pm on the Friday (late arrival is possible). Finish is 1pm on the Sunday. Accommodation is provided and travel expenses are paid, so no need to be out of pocket.

As well as the business side of things there is also a good social aspect to the weekend and you will have the opportunity to meet many O U students from far and wide.

Please see http://www.open.ac.uk/ousa/conference.php for more details of Conference or get in touch to find out what is involved. If you would like to be an OUSA in Scotland delegate at this year’s conference contact us on regional-forum@ousascotland.org.uk a s a p and no later than the 14th March.

Become a Residential School Representative

Do you have some time to spare during the summer months you would like to put to good use? Would you like to spend a week in the company of fellow students at an O U residential school? Each year O U S A provides a team of Residential School Representatives who are the face of O U S A to the students (our members), to the O U staff and tutors, and also to the host institution and student union.

The range of tasks undertaken by our “resi-reps” is quite diverse and includes meeting and greeting, marketing operations, social event organising, providing local information and generally being a friendly face for the students. Their whole aim is to help make a student’s experience of residential school enjoyable, informative and stress free.

Further information about becoming an O U S A Residential School Representative can be found at: www.open.ac.uk/ousa/residential_school.php or email our office on

ousa-resi-rep@open.ac.uk.

Become a Student Representative

Representing the student viewpoint to the University is one of the most important functions of O U S A. The Association appoints 'Central Representatives' to sit as student members on the University’s Senate, Governance Committees and Faculty Boards.

Our team of Central Student Representatives are essential to our role in representing O U Students; they are their eyes, ears and voice in our communications with the University. As the 'Students' Voice' they ensure that the O U students opinion is heard by the University, they fight for the rights of the students to receive the high quality service to which we are accustomed, they put forward O U S A policy and they are involved in discussions with the O U on the best way forward, through the present economic difficulties.

Would you like to become one of our Central Representatives? You would need to be able to attend between 4 and 6 week day meetings per year (depending upon the committee to which you are allocated) at Milton Keynes; travel and accommodation expenses are paid. To find out more, please see www.open.ac.uk/ousa/governance.php or email the O U S A office on

ousa-cen-rep@open.ac.uk.

Higher Education News

In October, the long awaited Browne Review into funding Higher Education in England was published. This has received much media coverage, particularly in the area of the fee increase (up to £9000). Although not directly affecting students in Scotland, as ours is a U K based University, serving an international community, the proposals of the Browne Review will have a major impact upon the O U as a whole. What the Browne Review does for England is shift the burden of fees on to the individual student with the main means of support being the student loan (which will be repaid, with interest, at a later date). Very worryingly, it recommends access to “student finance”, in the form of loans, should be based on U C A S points. This goes against the principle of openness that is ingrained into our University. Furthermore, the proposals set a minimum threshold of 30 credit points for eligibility for support.

In Scotland, the government has rejected the Browne Review and has recently released a green paper setting out a number of proposals for a Scottish Solution. In particular our Government is opposed to the idea of the burden for fees falling on the student.

O U students in Scotland (as in the rest of the U K) currently pay a portion of their course fees. The remainder of the cost is met by the Government via the Scottish Funding Council (S F C), and the O U in Scotland receives this funding directly. Some Scottish students may qualify for an I L A (individual learning account) of £200 or £500 to assist with the cost of their portion of the fees. Other students may have all of their fees paid in the form of the part-time fee waiver. Full-time students in Scotland, meanwhile, have their fees paid in full by the Government.

The Scottish green paper sets out a number of proposals as to how Higher Education could be funded in future. The current Government is strongly in favour of the state retaining prime responsibility for tuition fees, although a graduate contribution is a strong possibility.

Currently Scottish O U students pay the same course fees as other UK students. However, a few years ago, the O U Council agreed to break the link between the fees, paving the way for so called “differential fees”, whereby course fees may vary depending upon the UK nation in which the student is resident. With the UK and Scottish Governments now having very different approaches to funding higher education, differential fees will, it seems, become almost inevitable in the not too distant future.

Neither O U S A nor the O U have been quiet about any of the above. Both the O U and O U S A centrally made submissions to the Browne Review, and the O U S A president has since sent a response to relevant UK government ministers in response to the review. Here in Scotland a consultation on the proposals contained in the Green Paper has taken place. Organisations and individuals have been invited to submit responses. O U S A in Scotland has been closely monitoring events and has sent representatives to public consultation meetings. Individual students within Scotland have also had the opportunity to complete a web-based survey set up by the Government. Both the O U in Scotland and O U S A in Scotland will be submitting formal responses emphasising the needs of part-time distance learning students. 

The Green Paper, with its consultation process, is probably the most important thing to happen in Scottish Higher Education in over a decade. It provides the opportunity to shape the future. The responses to the consultation will become a valuable resource for the next government’s advisors. It is therefore imperative that the viewpoint of part-time students is represented in the response.

Although the official consultation is now over it’s not too late to get involved. As we enter the run-up to the Scottish Government elections, you can put the pressure on your M S P to fight for a better deal for part-time students. To keep up to date on issues as they arise please see the OU’s campaigning website http://fourinten.org/. The full text of the Green Paper is available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/12/15125810/0.

O U S A Scotland Island’s Student Group

This is an informal group of O U students who live on Scottish islands. The purpose of this group is to gather a community of students who live in these islands. Students are able to share experiences, support each other and identify the specific issues that can affect their study with the O U. Students who join this group can access it in Shared Activities online forums, via the Student Home page. If you would be interested in joining or would like more information please contact Jane Smith at js23992@my.open.ac.uk. See also the Diary Dates for details of our Stornoway meet up.

OUSA in Scotland Online

OUSA in Scotland (like most parts of OUSA) has a well established online presence. Currently, the official OUSA online medium is the OU’s First Class conferencing system. You can access First Class from the link on the left hand side of your Student Home page (it will probably be called something like “your OU mailbox and discussion forums”). Once in the system you can reach OUSA in Scotland by clicking on the Open University Link, then Regions, then R11 and finally OUSA R11. Here you can access OUSA in Scotland’s forums which as well as being a means of us communicating information to you are also a way for you to communicate with OUSA and your fellow students. Pop in and say hello and meet other Scottish students.

You can also find us on Facebook as OUSA in Scotland and, hopefully by the time you read this, the OU’s own social networking site Platform, http://www.open.ac.uk/platform/. In addition to the main OUSA in Scotland information on Facebook you will also find localised content for the Edinburgh and Glasgow Student Groups. So even if you don’t have access to First Class (and we appreciate some newer students might not) you can still interact with us online.

We are in the process of developing our own website for OUSA in Scotland and will bring you news of this in a future newsletter. In the meantime you can view general information on OUSA at http://www.open.ac.uk/ousa/.

Looking for Work Experience

A new programme to enable students in higher education to gain paid work experience within the third sector (social enterprises, voluntary organisations, co-operatives and mutuals) was launched at the end of last year. A joint initiative between the Open University, Queen Margaret University and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, the programme will provide a variety of opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience whilst studying. It may be particularly useful for Open University students who are studying with a view to a career change. The first internships started in January and more will become available as the project takes off. For more information on the 4-year programme and what is on offer please visit http://www.qmu.ac.uk/TSIS/.

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.

If you would like further information on O U S A in Scotland please do get in touch.

The February 2011 edition of the East of England Region OU Students Association newsletter is now available.

You can download it directly from the OU website by following this link.

Please note that this link will expire in approximately one month so you should save the newsletter to your own computer if you wish to keep it for future reference.