Research at the OU aspires to influence policy, shape professional practice and enrich lives and this group is home to some of the OU's research stories.
OU Spanish graduate launches own Spanish tuition website
Tony Brush (pictured) describes how his OU Spanish studies combined with a range of other interests to take him in a new direction.
A number of these came together when I was writing my own Spanish course, which is now online, and includes a lot of audio material. When I was recording audio material for the blind at the OU, I saw it as something different, interesting, and worthwhile. We were fortunate enough to be given some voice training, and the experience itself was also a form of training, so it all helped a lot with audio recording for my own project years later.
And coding – the more code you write, the better you get at it. For my own site, I've gone for a clean look – it's been described as “lean and mean”.
I started learning Spanish round about 1998, to go backpacking in Latin America, which I did for eight months, and I have also enjoyed a number of trips to Spain. In 2006, this was with the OU, for the two-week intensive Spanish course, at the campus in Santiago de Compostela. It was an excellent time – the beautiful city, the amazing seafood, the trips around the north-west corner of Spain, and the social side of the course.
The course also inspired me to take up Tango, as this was one of the cultural aspects covered in the course materials. I found classes in Oxford, and that was a significant part of my life during my last couple of years in that city.
Relax to learn
Holistic Lingua, my own Spanish course, employs some unusual learning strategies, one of which is the use of relaxation recordings. This is something that the Bulgarian researcher Lozanov pioneered decades ago. Having also studied and practised hypnotherapy, I've always been fascinated by altered states of consciousness, and the potential they can unlock. This course just dips a toe in the water here, with a few recordings for light relaxation. The basic principle is: a calm, clear mind absorbs new information more easily. I've also added some of my own ideas to the learning methods, and preliminary tests with these have shown them to be extremely effective.
Since leaving the OU, I have kept up the martial arts; it's one of the main passions in my life. I was awarded my black belt in Euchi Ryu Karate in 2008, at the club in Bletchley which I joined when I moved to Milton Keynes to work on the campus. I have since taught this in different places I've lived, and will be teaching Karate in Newcastle again very soon. I feel self-defence is important, and I'm glad to pass on these skills.
I keep in contact with the Spanish language and Hispanic society by meeting with a Spanish conversation group once a week. Stereotypes are just stereotypes, but I do find Hispanic culture appealing – warm, courteous, and laid back.
Tony Brush 22 May 2012
To view Tony's Spanish course for free for one week, go to www.holistic-lingua.com, and sign up. When you have confirmed, go to the "subscribe" page and enter the code “OPENUNIVERSITY”. The offer is valid till end of June 2012.
Tony Brush (pictured) describes how his OU Spanish studies combined with a range of other interests to take him in a new direction. I worked with the OU from 2002-2004, and studied Spanish with the OU from 2004-2006. My experience of the OU at that time was diverse – computer programming during the day at the Knowledge Media Institute, recording audio material for blind ...
An award for best essay and advice on working abroad
Jon who now lives in France reveals the surprise of winning the award and shares his experiences of study with the OU, work abroad and offers advice on learning a foreign language.
Winning the prize of £150
It was with delight that I opened an OU letter in early January and discovered that, far from being the expected circular, it brought altogether different news. More wonderful is the knowledge that some families in our midst are generous enough to offer total strangers the chance to compete for such an award and the chance, at the same time, to remember Mathena Kerr Ross. Such prizes are life-affirming and inspiring to us all.
How I came to study with the OU
Physics had been my worst subject at school - although there were plenty of other contenders, like French, ironically enough. One of my fellow menials had just started a PhD course at Birmingham on the strength of gaining a First at the OU. Looking back, his shining example was the first step along my own OU path.
My next career phase was in journalism, where I ended up editing a science and science fiction magazine but my OU course began in 1993, starting with Foundation Science and progressing to Biology, Psychology and Earth Sciences ... then, after a few gap years, veering off to Classics and Shakespeare. This last, AA306, has to be one of the best.
Review of AA306 Shakespeare: text and performance
Before starting the course, I thought I already knew a fair bit about Shakespeare. I’d seen and read nearly all of the plays, including some at the very fringes of the canon.
I advise you approach it afresh (i.e. without necessarily having done much prior reading, and with mind, ears and eyes fully open to new ideas). The course introduces you to what is probably some of the most interesting and thought-provoking criticism of the last twenty years or so. A lot of people might consider Shakespeare an almost fossilised area of study when compared to, say, astronomy, but it’s probably fair to say that attitudes to Shakespeare have changed as much since the 80s as have ways of thinking about black holes.
My new life in France is very leisurely but provides plenty of scope to reconnect with my previous career in journalism. I’ve recently joined a local (English-speaking) radio group and lend a hand at a local cinema which helps me get up to date with French film. All of these activities are voluntary and, for me, doing the work is its own reward.
Working abroad and speaking the language
The new roles are actually conducted in English, not French. There are lots of English people in Brittany, and there is even an organisation to help with integration which is based in the village near to where I live. But true integration comes with proficiency in the local language and, unfortunately, it’s all too easy to get by without a good grasp of French. My own French is far from adequate at the moment, malheureusement.
Advice for those seeking employment in France or overseas
For those seeking employment, and with sufficient motivation and energy, there are government-sponsored schemes which try to find work for people. Job-seekers are given (free) French lessons which, depending on age, can be quite intensive. Younger people are considered to have the best chance of finding employment and are given the most help acquiring that all-important French language.
However, anyone thinking of relocating and working abroad would probably be well advised to try and become a competent speaker of the local language before arrival, as learning does not take place simply by being there. There are too many English newspapers, television channels and English speakers for that to happen automatically.
Despite having taken an intensive French language course, joined a French-conversation class, tried numerous audio courses and having a couple of hours of lessons per week, I’m beginning to regret not having taken an OU course in French! Like many others, I find that the OU actually works well for me and, given a little determination on our part, the courses are almost guaranteed to succeed where others might fail.
Find out more:
- Study AA306 Shakespeare: text and performance
- Study French with the OU
- Leaving a Gift to The Open University
- The Marthena Kerr award and previous winner
Jon Chambers has won this year’s Mathena Kerr Ross Prize, an award made to the student with the best essay on module AA306 Shakespeare: text and performance, given in memory of an OU student who enjoyed her OU studies and in particular Shakespeare. Jon who now lives in France reveals the surprise of winning the award and shares his experiences of study with the OU, ...
Coping with ME and two OU degrees...
Marion Grenfell-Essam, 28, from Essex, has had ME since she was just 12 years old which means the smallest of tasks leave her utterly exhausted. But she’s found comfort in OU study, the flexibility of which allows her to work around her symptoms, and she plans on “studying for the rest of my life if I can.”
Forced to drop out of studying for a BSc in Applied Psychology at Cardiff University, Marion was overcome with depression. At the time, her mum was (and still is) studying towards a BSc in Psychology with the OU and “decided to bully me into finding an interest,” says Marion.
“She knew I had always expressed an interest in learning more about web design so she pestered me into signing up for T183 Design and the Web. That was the autumn of 2006 and I haven't looked back.”
“Certainly my intention with the BSc in Computing is to give myself the skills to be able to work from home on computing and web design projects. The BSc in Mathematics and Statistics is mostly for fun,” she says of working towards two degrees.
Support from tutors
“I think the thing I like most about OU study is the freedom; both the freedom when studying a particular course to go at the speed that suits me but also the freedom to choose what to study. I've always been interested in learning almost for its own sake so the ability to choose from numerous subjects is wonderful.
“I've found almost universal support from my tutors. When I've been having problems with the TMA deadlines they are always happy to give advice about my best options and the teaching quality has been excellent both in the year long and short courses.
Marion has had ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy) or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) for 16 years and she’s learned to deal with the symptoms.
“The main symptom is fatigue. Joint and muscle pain is common, with visible twitching of muscles being relatively rare. Perhaps the most frustrating set of symptoms are the cognitive symptoms: problems with short-term memory, concentration and maintaining attention. Sufferers often complain of brain fog - the inability to focus properly.
'Perhaps the greatest support the OU gives me is home exams. I simply could never have completed any course with an exam if I had had to go to an exam centre'
“Most sufferers will experience headaches with many having to deal with migraines - basically headaches but with additional components: flashing light or auras, neck pain, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, nausea even to the point of vomiting and skin sensitivity so that even light bed clothes can feel like someone is gripping their hand hard around your skin. Basically when it gets really bad your only option is go and lie down or lie propped up in a dark, quiet room.”
With day-to-day activities like eating and dressing making her tired, Marion sleeps a lot, but she can be awake in the early hours of the morning. So it’s the complete flexibility of OU study that allows her to work at her own pace and in short bursts if necessary, with support for her additional needs via the university's services for disabled students.
“Because I can't plan my good days and my bad weeks I can't always stick to the timetable. My tutors are always very supportive about giving me extensions if I think that a couple of extra weeks might make the difference between a partial TMA and no TMA. I find reading 12 size font just a little bit too small to be comfortable for me so the ability to read my Unit texts as pdfs where I can zoom to a size that works for me is great.
'Sometimes you just can't talk to your family and friends about what you're dealing with but you need to talk to someone and the other students on the forum always understand what you're facing'
“Where I want to read from the unit but would struggle to hold it open the OU provide me with comb-bound books so that they lie flat on my lap or table so I don't get hand strain keeping the book flattened to read. The use of iTMAs is a big bonus as it means I don't have to try and hand write anything with my sore muscles. At the tutorials my Learning Support team make sure I have a ground floor room close to the entrance so that I can easily walk the distance with the help of my walking stick.
“Perhaps the greatest support the OU gives me is home exams. I simply could never have completed any course with an exam if I had had to go to an exam centre. I can sit where I always sit to study with the light and noise levels set to my preferences and with my body supported to avoid muscle strain.
"I'm allowed 30 minutes of rest breaks so I tend to take at least two breaks of 10 minutes each and sometimes a third of the remaining 10 minutes depending on how tired I am and how the questions work out. I can use these 10 minutes simply to close my eyes and stop for 10 minutes or I can shift my papers and lie down on my sofa and catch 10 minutes sleep if need be.
“Because of the eye strain the OU provides me with large print exam papers on pink paper to avoid the glare off a white page.”
Reassurance that you're not alone
Marion’s an active member of the OUSA and Platform forums, which she finds “an enormous support”.
“Sometimes you just can't talk to your family and friends about what you're dealing with but you need to talk to someone and the other students on the forum always understand what you're facing. Even if they haven't gone through it themselves they usually have some sensible advice and often all that is really needed is the reassurance that you're not alone with having to deal with the consequences of this disease.”
Aside from study, Marion likes to read, watch TV shows from crime to sci-fi and has recently discovered blogging.
“Since January this year I've been feeling more hopeful for the future and felt that my brain state allowed me to at least string some sentences together. So I started by reading some of the blogs listed on Platform and when I felt I'd got a feel for it I took the plunge and wrote my first post.
“It allows me to crow about small accomplishments - like sleeping for nine hours and not two hours or 12 hours. It allows me to moan about the migraines or rave about a new book or TV show.
“With the short-term memory issues that go with ME it is generally impossible for me to remember what happened to me last week certainly not any further back and it is very easy to lose track of time between events. The ability to go back re-read posts to discover what I've been doing for the last three weeks or two months ago is a very useful by-product of keeping a blog.”
Marion Grenfell-Essam, 28, from Essex, has had ME since she was just 12 years old which means the smallest of tasks leave her utterly exhausted. But she’s found comfort in OU study, the flexibility of which allows her to work around her symptoms, and she plans on “studying for the rest of my life if I can.” Forced to drop out of studying for a BSc in Applied Psychology at ...
OU 'completely changed my life' says author Julia Crouch
Julia Crouch started her career as director and playwright, retrained as a graphic designer to work from home and raise children and, after two creative writing courses with The Open University and support from her tutors, is now working full time as a writer and published author. Would she recommend OU study? “Absolutely,” she says, “the courses have completely changed my life.” Here, she talks to Platform and offers some tips to budding writers...
Little did Julia realise that when she stumbled on a magazine flyer advertising short courses with The Open University that it would lead to a professional writing career. With her third and youngest child at school, Julia had found herself at a crossroads.
“Having not written any fiction (apart from my picture books and plays) since I was a child, I had no idea where to start, or whether I was going to be any good at it. So I thought the A174 presented an ideal opportunity to find out.
"The commitment in terms of time and money was at just the right level for putting my toe in the water.
After a drama degree at Bristol University, Julia’s professional life started as a theatre director and playwright, but children changed that and she needed to work from home. She retrained at a local FE College and spent 10 years as a graphic/website designer but it was during an MA in Sequential Illustration at the University of Brighton that Julia realised she preferred writing over drawing.
'I think the major thing I took away with me was the ability to treat my writing seriously and to carve out time to do it'
“A174 was an ideal introduction and A215 taught me so much about the technical side of writing, as well as firing off all sorts of creative possibilities and opening up my reading and my critical thinking. I think the major thing I took away with me was the ability to treat my writing seriously and to carve out time to do it. The tutors were marvellous, and particularly good at giving me the confidence I so badly needed.
“The courses have completely changed my life - two years after completing A215, I had finished my second novel and got an agent and a three book deal with a major publisher, as well as a whole host of foreign sales. I was able to give up my other work and now I write full time, in between talking, reading and lecturing at festivals and courses.”
Julia says encouragement from her tutors played a key role in boosting her confidence and it was the suggestion to enter National Novel Writing Month – a scheme to write a whole novel in one month, without looking back at what you’ve written - that really set her going.
'The courses have completely changed my life - two years after completing A215, I had finished my second novel and got an agent and a three book deal with a major publisher'
“My A215 tutor John O'Donoghue suggested it to me, and I realised that, like A174, it presented a great, low-commitment way of finding out if I could write long fiction - just one month of heavy duty sprint – 1,700 words every day for the whole month of November.
“The idea is you never go back and read what you've written and you never edit - you just put your head down and write until, 50,000 words later, you have reached the very quick and dirty end of your story. After my second NaNoWriMo sprint, I spent a year editing what I had produced, and that formed the basis of my first published novel, Cuckoo.”
Julia’s second book, Every Vow You Break, is about to hit the shelves and she’s currently working hard on her third, mostly from a shed in the bottom of her Brighton garden.
"I now also have a much more varied life, with many more outings both on book business and for research and what I call 'feeding my beast' - living a life that nourishes my writing.
"I hope I'll get another book deal after this one (I'm shortly due to deliver the third out of the three) and that I can carry on writing books well into my dotage.”
Would Julia recommend OU study to others?
“Of course! Absolutely and unreservedly. Whether to get professional qualifications or to follow or develop an interest, it's a fantastic way of fitting study around a life. Particularly if that life involves a lot of evenings in on your own while your children sleep!”
Here, Julia offers her tips to other writers:
- It's contradictory really - you have to have self-belief and a thick skin, but you also have to be able to accept and respond to criticism without getting defensive.
- You'll never have anything to edit until you have written it. So write first, THEN go back and edit. Never, ever let anyone see your work until you are happy with it. Then be prepared to change it again and again.
- I suppose the nutshell of that is be serious about your work, but don't be precious about it.
- Write every day. Read widely. Read fiction, read books about writing.
- Make sure you get enough exercise. Make sure you get out and see the world.
- The other thing to bear in mind is that EVERYONE I have met in publishing has been lovely. They are there to nurture and encourage good work. When you're on the outside looking in, it's easy to demonise those you see as the gatekeepers between you and publication. But they are there for a good reason. Listen to what they say.
You can find out more about Julia and her work at: juliacrouch.co.uk
Julia Crouch started her career as director and playwright, retrained as a graphic designer to work from home and raise children and, after two creative writing courses with The Open University and support from her tutors, is now working full time as a writer and published author. Would she recommend OU study? “Absolutely,” she says, “the courses have completely changed my ...
Taxation expert heads Law School
Professor Frecknall-Hughes has worked as a chartered tax consultant and chartered accountant. Her research spans legal history, ethics, strategic management, international bsiness, finance and the history and development of the tax and legal professions.
Until May 2009 she was President of The Tax Research Network and she has written articles on taxation for numerous publishers and journals.
Professor Frecknall-Hughes has taught and examined undergraduates at all levels across a wide range of business subjects including revenue law, business law, auditing and financial and management accounting.
She has co-designed modules at postgraduate and undergraduate levels, and formulated teaching policy and practice as a programme director and divisional director of studies.
She has two undergraduate degrees from the University of Oxford, a doctorate in revenue law and tax practice, postgraduate teaching qualifications from the University of Leeds and a Masters in Commercial Law from the University of Northumbria. She is a fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
"I am delighted and honoured to be leading The Open University’s Law School at such an exciting time, " she said. "Since its conception in 1998, the School has gone from strength to strength."
The Law School is introducing its first postgraduate qualification, the Master of Laws (LLM) with the presentation of the first module to students in May 2011, and further modules beginning in May and November this year.
The Open University Law School is home to over 5000 Students. Its programmes include the LLB (Hons) – a qualifying law degree in England and Wales – which is offered in collaboration with The College of Law. It also offers a Master’s degree in law (LLM). The most popular law module is Rules, rights and justice: an introduction to law (W100) which has more than 2,500 current students.
Further information
- Watch Professor Frecknall-Hughes' lecture on the many ways governments have found to raise taxes over the ages.
Taxation expert Professor Jane Frecknall-Hughes (pictured) has been appointed Head of The Open University Law School. Professor Frecknall-Hughes has worked as a chartered tax consultant and chartered accountant. Her research spans legal history, ethics, strategic management, international bsiness, finance and the history and development of the tax and legal ...
New service for OU Alumni from OU MBA graduate
The inspiration behind Go-Safely was actually a client from my first company, Virtual PA. Virtual PA is a pay-as-you-go service where your calls are answered by your named PA in your company name and your administration is sorted. This client's Virtual PA was looking after his interests in a very manual way, literally scheduling his meetings and calls and text messages to check he had arrived at his meetings and then returned home safely. It was a great idea, but onerous, labour intensive (and therefore expensive) and prone to error.
So we decided to create a platform which clients could set up for themselves via text message and simply ‘check-in’ at that time to confirm they were okay. That way, the Virtual PA (or other half, employer, parent or whoever was looking out for their well-being) would know that by virtue of no contact – all is well, ideal for late night arrivals or check-ins during a busy day.
It’s very simple to use, clients simply add Go-Safely to their mobile phone contacts and text the date, time and check-in description to Go-Safely. So for example, for an estate agent, they might schedule a check-in for the time they are due to leave a viewing. If they don’t check-in via text to confirm safety, Go-Safely will text them a reminder or two, if radio silence persists, Go-Safely raises the alarm to a team member who is briefed on how to escalate the situation from there.
The benefit of Go-Safely is that it removes the burden of intrusive or disruptive checking up on an employee or loved one and replaces it with the peace of mind that comes from knowing no news is effectively good news. It is used by all kinds of lone workers, from security and sales people to community workers and by Gap Year travellers and sports people.
Go-Safely runs as a client of the Virtual PA Co. And is offered as a free subscription to existing Virtual PA Co clients. It’s an example of where Virtual PA Co runs at its best, where clients can effectively brief all but the core business out, a total front of house, head office solution, or an overflow when required, where calls are answered and dealt with (not just messaged), the sale closed, the payment taken, the meeting diarised. It works so well for hundreds of clients every day and costs a fraction of single salary.
About Gail:
I graduated as an MBA from the OU in the late 90s and haven’t looked back. It was great for my career before I left corporate life to set up on my own. As a marketing manager, the knowledge I gained enabled me to look at more general management roles and make the move in to a more multi-discipline environment. In turn this stood me in great stead for setting up my own business, with the knowledge and more importantly, the confidence to tackle new areas of expertise. I still draw on elements of the MBA on a regular basis; like any training once received, it’s easy to forget what you learned and I find myself flicking back and referencing key learning points which act as a reassurance in what I’m doing now.
The finance elements were particularly helpful to me as knowing the numbers is critical in business. In summary I would say the MBA gave confidence to my employers and confidence to me when I decided to go it alone.
Once you get the bug for setting up a new business, it’s easy to get distracted and since I set up Virtual PA Co over ten years ago, I’ve also dabbled in online and offline retail businesses, an online estate agency and helped my husband set up his surveying business. Now though I am determined to focus on Virtual PA Co and the Go-Safely service, there is so much that they have to offer to small, medium and large businesses.
Gail is kindly waiving the sign up fee for both services to all OU alumni. Visit her websites for further details:
www.go-safely.com
go@go-safely.com
www.virtualpa.co.uk
gail@virtualpa.co.uk
Tel: 01733 297580
Gail Thomas is an OU MBA alum, who since graduating, has started several businesses, two of which are currently available to fellow OU alumni with no sign-up fee. Here Gail talks to Platform to share her own journey and details about her latest company, Go-Safely... The inspiration behind Go-Safely was actually a client from my first company, ...
Economist to head Business and Law School
Professor Taylor (pictured), who was Associate Dean at Nottingham Business School, has a PhD in Economics and has directed research projects related to online teaching of Economics and the wider Social Sciences.
She is an Associate Director of the Economics Network at the University of Bristol, and has worked with the Economic and Social Research Council and the Higher Education Academy on addressing the identified skills deficit in quantitative methods across the Social Sciences.
Professor Taylor said she felt 'very privileged' to have joined the OU. For full OU news release click here.
Professor Rebecca Taylor, formerly of Nottingham Trent University, is the new Dean of The Open University Business and Law School. Professor Taylor (pictured), who was Associate Dean at Nottingham Business School, has a PhD in Economics and has directed research projects related to online teaching of Economics and the wider Social Sciences. She is an Associate Director of ...
OU student Nicci chosen to carry the Olympic Torch
Action for Children worker Nicci was selected by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) after being nominated by her manager, Eve Chinnery.
Nicci is looking forward to her Olympic role, which will see her carry the torch along a part of the 70-day Olympic Torchbearer Relay around the UK. Nicci said: "I don't know where I will be carrying it yet, but I have been told I will have it on May 27th somewhere between Swansea and Aberystwyth. It could be anywhere on the route, but I hope it's close to home!"
She added that when she received the confirmation email from LOCOG, she couldn't believe it. “I was gobsmacked but absolutely delighted to be chosen as I thought the chances of actually being picked were so minimal. I couldn't be more pleased.”
The keen runner has raised hundreds of pounds for charity by completing the Cardiff Half Marathon and is set to compete in this year’s London Marathon. Eve Chinnery, Action for Children Service Manager, said: “Nicci thoroughly deserves to take part in this historic sporting event. She is a hardworking and dedicated member of the team at Powys Community Support Service and also dedicates her spare time to the disabled children outside of working hours, as well as studying for an Open University degree and bringing up to two teenage sons.”
Nicci certainly has some exciting times ahead. “2012 is going to be a good year with my Graduation, the London Marathon and of course being a torch bearer which I am very honoured to be doing, and to top it all I was one of the lucky people to get Olympic tickets so will be going to the stadium with my sons to watch the Athletics on 10th August too.”
With such a busy lifestyle the OU’s study path was the best option for Nicci who is currently studying for an Open Degree.
“I am very excited to be attending my graduation ceremony in the Barbican at the end of March! I really enjoyed my studies with the OU, I like the flexibility, the support was excellent and I could fit it in around everything else to suit my schedule. I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone.”
Find out more:
OU student Nicci Shrimpton has been selected as one of the 8,000 runners who will be carrying the Olympic torch on its nationwide tour ahead of the games in London. She was chosen for her work with disabled children as well as many extra fundraising efforts for a variety of charities. Action for Children worker Nicci was selected by the London Organising ...
Psychology degree to published author with a little help from the OU
Why I chose to study with The Open University (OU)
I always regretted not being able to stay on for higher education after school, instead I ended up getting a job in a bank. It was years later when I was a house wife with two young children that The Open University adverts that I had seen in local media attracted me to send off for a prospectus.
I chose the OU as I am registered disabled, and I wanted to work at my own pace, fairly flexibly and to fit my studies in with my own personal circumstances. I also thought that the fees were reasonable, and the way the prospectus described the different levels and paths of subjects you could take to eventually achieve your goal, was easy and accessible.
Getting advice and support to study
The one thing that worried me was whether the demands the studying needed outweigh my own personal limits. I looked at the higher levels to see if it was a necessity to attend a residential school, as I knew that it would be inappropriate for my personal circumstances, although when I read the reviews I regretted that I would not be able to attend. My worries were not necessary as there was alternative learning experience (ALE) program in place, and I also read with interest the support that the OU was able to give to disabled students.
I was taken back with the friendly response, motivation and eagerness of the disability department to come out and visit me to talk about my personal requirements. I was very apprehensive, but was soon put at ease by the gentleman who visited me, and his advice was so valuable, I was also fortunate to receive financial help as well as an adaptation in my learning and studies to help suit my needs.
Successful studying
Initially I studied Understanding Health and Social Care (K100) as I was always interested in helping others and at one stage had wanted to work with the elderly or children. I realised that if I was to commit myself to study I wanted to achieve a significant goal such as a degree. I was able to work out that in my first course in Health and Social Care I could gain a Certificate after the first level which would be an achievement in itself, and if I wanted to continue I could count the level towards a degree.
As I could not attend tutorials the OU arranged telephone contact, from my tutors, and I was even told that I was eligible for a home exam. The Invigilator was a very kind and professional lady who I nicknamed in my head ‘The Sergeant Major” as we had to synchronise watches after her first visit. I should not have worried as in my very first course I managed to achieve a distinction, and was so proud of my achievement. This also spurred me on to enroll in the next course towards a degree.
A degree in psychology to focus on long-term writing ambitions
I decided to pursue psychology, as my son had dyslexia, and I had suffered from mental health problems and wanted to learn more about them. I was also trying to work hard on my book that was a true account of my past called ‘A Fine Line A Balance to Survive by Lisa WB'. I had suffered from extreme child abuse and was interested in learning more about psychology to not only improve my expertise but to also help with my writing.
As I studied with the OU my confidence increased, and each time I had to study a new course, I initially worried about whether the new tutor would understand that I couldn’t attend tutorials and be empathetic towards my needs as my illness is unpredictable. At some stages I would be unable to study for a few days or even weeks. I tried to combat this by working as hard as I could when able to keep ahead in case I was ill.
Once again I am still astonished at the response by the Open University staff, all my tutors were very friendly, understanding and supported my needs. At the ALE they even let me promote my book in one of the forums at the end of the course.
It was in December 2011 that I received my results and I was fortunate to have achieved a 1.1 First Class (Honours) Degree in Psychology.
I will always be grateful to the Open University, as I believe it was because of the University’s willingness to support my disability and the way they helped me manage my studies I was able to achieve what I did. One of the tutors even endorsed my book when it was published.
I was so sad when I took my final exam as I felt I was leaving a friend behind, although, through the Open University I have made many new friends.
Becoming a published author
The University helped me with my confidence to finish my book: A fine line, which has been praised by The British Psychology Society, and the ebook has been a best seller in many categories for over a year.
I am now writing a sequel called The Survival, and am hoping to include some of the expertise learnt from my psychology degree.
I hope if other people are thinking about studying, they give the Open University a chance, as it has been one of the best experiences in my life.
Find out more:
Lisa Whenham-Bossy chose to study with the Open University as she is registered disabled. She believes the support she received from the OU during her time as a student, enabled her to ‘spread her wings’ and achieve not only a First Class (Honours) Degree in Psychology, but go on to become a published author. Why I chose to study with The Open University (OU) I ...
OU psychology graduate gets MBE for services to children and families
It was a double accolade for Clive Cumming and his wife Sharon, from Bristol, who were both named MBEs in the New Year’s Honours list, having fostered 150 children over 35 years.
Clive graduated from the Open University in 2000 with a BA (Hons) in Psychology and says his OU studies helped him both in his job as a commercial manager with the Ministry of Defence and as a foster parent.
He said of his OU degree: “Aside from giving me a better understanding of human behaviour (particularly useful during commercial negotiations!) the main benefit has been in relation to the fostering work which my wife and I undertake.
“Many of the young people who come into our care have experienced emotional trauma in their early life. An understanding of how this affects their subsequent development helps us to understand behaviour which they may present whilst in our care.”
Clive started his OU student journey in 1993 with a social science foundation course and progressed with further studies to achieve graduate membership of the British Psychological Society.
He said he and his wife Sharon were delighted to be appointed MBEs and think of it as a reward and recognition for the good work that all foster carers do.
For more information read this story in the Bristol Evening Post.
An OU graduate has been awarded an MBE for his services to children and families – and says his psychology degree helped him get there. It was a double accolade for Clive Cumming and his wife Sharon, from Bristol, who were both named MBEs in the New Year’s Honours list, having fostered 150 children over 35 years. Clive graduated from the Open University in 2000 ...
OU's Dr Basiro Davey recognised in New Year's Honours list
Basiro joined the OU in 1976 after completing a Doctorate in Tumour Immunology. She pioneered the development of the Health Sciences curriculum at the OU, including the multidisciplinary U205 Health and disease, S320 Infectious disease and most recently, SDK125 Introducing health sciences.
She was Health Sciences Awards Director for several years until 2009, leading the development of the OU’s undergraduate and postgraduate modules and awards in this interdisciplinary area.
In her long OU career she has produced hundreds of multi-media educational materials for distance-learning modules in many areas of public health, including immunology, epidemiology, communicable diseases, sexually transmitted infections and cancers.
Basiro is an expert in distance learning pedagogy, recognised by an OU Teaching Award in 2010. From 2009 to 2011, she was seconded to the OU’s Health Education and Training (HEAT) programme for Africa, as its Deputy Director (Ethiopia), developing training materials and leading intensive curriculum design and writing workshops with 57 Ethiopian health experts and around a dozen OU colleagues.
Together they produced 13 HEAT modules, which are already being studied by over 1,000 of Ethiopia’s rural Health Extension Workers, on key areas of health promotion and disease prevention, including antenatal care, labour and delivery, environmental health, family planning, nutrition, immunization, communicable and non-communicable diseases and mental health. In 2012 another 5,000 Ethiopian students will study these modules, with further cohorts of 3,000 expected annually thereafter.
Find out more:
Dr Basiro Davey
Dr Basiro Davey from the Open University's Faculty of Science has been made an MBE in the New Year's Honours list for services to health and higher education. Basiro joined the OU in 1976 after completing a Doctorate in Tumour Immunology. She pioneered the development of the Health Sciences curriculum at the OU, including the multidisciplinary U205 Health and disease, S320 ...
OU prize winner in poetry translation competition
Henry Stead, Research Student (Classical Studies) has won third prize in the prestigious The Times Stephen Spender Prize 2011, awarded for an original translation of poetry into English. His winning entry is a translation from Latin of an extract of Seneca's powerful tragedy, ‘Medea’.
The prize set up by the The Times and Stephen Spender Trust, hopes to encourage and stimulate a new generation of literary translators. Stephen Spender was himself a fine translator of poetry.
Email to request a free booklet containing the winning translations and commentaries.
One of the judges, Prof Edith Hall, comments: "As a theatre enthusiast, I was delighted with the taut speakability of Henry Stead’s excerpt from his version of the grim Senecan Medea. I hope that it will encourage others to submit translations from verse drama, a category of translation in which poets such as Ted Hughes and Tony Harrison have recently shown English can be most effective."
Find out more:
- Henry's winning poem
- Classical studies at the OU
- The Times Stephen Spender Prize for poetry translation 2011
Henry Stead, Research Student (Classical Studies) has won third prize in the prestigious The Times Stephen Spender Prize 2011, awarded for an original translation of poetry into English. His winning entry is a translation from Latin of an extract of Seneca's powerful tragedy, ‘Medea’. The prize set up by the The Times and Stephen Spender Trust, hopes to encourage and stimulate ...
Nicola's career in the land of Frozen Planet
In one sentence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or FCO, promotes UK interests overseas. This includes supporting UK citizens and businesses around the world. We do a huge variety of work – from helping distressed British nationals overseas, to representing the UK at the Arctic Council.
My current role is Desk Officer Antarctica in the Polar Regions Unit, but sadly I probably won’t get to visit!. This is a generalist position which involves helping administer the British Antarctic Territory and dealing with wider Antarctic issues. I previously worked in our Libya Crisis Unit, Policy Unit and Africa Directorate in London. I’ve been on short trips to Africa and China, and was also lucky enough to spend 18 months working overseas at our Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia.
I did BA (Hons) Humanities including a mix of arts and business courses (AD317, AAZX300, A213 and B200). Studying with the OU requires self-discipline and commitment, both of which are very attractive to employers. The European studies and comparative religion courses provided a lot of factual knowledge which I’ve found useful. Studying such a wide range of subjects also prepared me well for the multi-skilled jobs I’ve had so far in the FCO. But most importantly I think the OU approaches subjects in quite an innovative way and that has rubbed off on the way I approach problems. Creative thinking is valued in the FCO and the OU is very good at teaching it.
Yes, I spend about half of my time working out of our Embassy in Dublin as my partner is currently based in Ireland. I borrow a computer and redirect my phone line from London. Flexible working is encouraged in the FCO but it isn’t an automatic entitlement or right, so when I applied for the role in the Polar Regions Unit I also included a letter explaining how the job could be done remotely, at least some of the time. I used my Open University degree as an example of how I can work without close supervision. Fortunately my team were willing to give it a go, and the Embassy in Dublin has been very welcoming and accommodating too.
Frozen Planet offers a rare insight into the stunning polar regions and we hope it inspires viewers to learn more about the UK’s interests and activities in the Arctic and Antarctic. The UK has a very long and impressive history of polar science and exploration, which continues today. You might know about the tragic outcome of Captain Scott’s ill-fated trip to the South Pole one hundred years ago, but did you know that he also recorded scientific data that is still used today? Measurements from Scott’s expedition helped British Antarctic Survey scientists discover the hole in the Ozone in the 1980s.
One of the more unusual ways we have collaborated with the Frozen Planet team is to produce a set of stamps for the British Antarctic Territory, which is administered by the Polar Regions Unit. I really hope they’re a success as we reinvest most of the revenue into projects to protect and promote the Territory!
Find out more
- OU course S175: The Frozen Planet
- OU on the BBC: Frozen Planet
- FCO polar regions
- British antarctic territory
- Discovering the arctic
- Discovering antarctica
Nicola Awford OU alumna, works for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Polar Regions Unit. Find out more about her job, how the OU has influenced her work and how her role relates to the current OU/BBC production of Frozen Planet. Can you tell us what the Foreign and Commonwealth office do? In one sentence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, or ...
Share your OU success story like OU Humanities graduate Dave Webster
OU graduate Dave Webster completed his BA (honours) in Humanities with Art History in 2006. Since then he has been working hard on various projects including his recent 6 week touring exhibition of his artwork called ‘The Real Meaning of Life, A Question of Evolution’.
Platform caught up with him to find out more about his OU experience, his inspirations and further details about his fascinating artwork. Read his story below.
My idea had always been to create art that could be understood by all. But first I felt I had to fully understand art myself, at a much deeper level than I had previously accepted. Working as a sculptor made full time education impossible. The OU provided the answer. The method of helping me to gain confidence as I progressed through the various levels of study fired me with enthusiasm to learn more.
The courses starting with A103 were a challenge to my preconceived ideas. The work was structured and understandable to a student who had left school at fifteen years of age and not formally studied at all in the intervening thirty five years. I had decided to work my way through various courses starting with the Renaissance to Modernism and Conceptual art. During the years previous to this I had read as much as I could on the first known forms of art such as the sculptures of the Venus figures found all over Europe. This first awareness into the workings of the human mind combined with the open shelter and cave paintings in Africa, France and Spain all helped to create a hunger for knowledge of these past cultures. I went on to read about the art of Egyptian, West Asia and Crete followed by Greek, Roman and the art of the Dark ages. These studies in tandem with reading about Palaeo-anthropology and the Fossil record have been instrumental in my art works in which I try to show how we evolved and how art and religion have played such a major part in forming our societies and cultures and the present human condition.
The experience of working towards a degree was both rewarding and frustrating as time was in short supply to complete the study and TMAs. The summer schools were both hard work and fun. Meeting fellow students with the same problems was rewarding and the philosophical debates and the ensuing arguments with various tutors were a challenge yet stimulating. All these experiences added to visits to galleries ensured a most memorable time. The OU experience is one of the best achievements of my life. It helped form the ideas to create my recent exhibition ‘The Real Meaning of Life’ The object of creating the exhibition was to provide an experience of art which provokes questions regarding our past and present civilizations, cultures and societies, and most of all our future.”
Visit ‘The Real Meaning of Life, A Question of Evolution’ virtual exhibition for the result of Dave’s OU journey. He welcomes questions and comments below.
If you want to share your story, please add this in the comments box below (please note that you'll need to be logged in to Platform with your OU username and password or guest account in order to post comments) or email: platformeditor@open.ac.uk
Useful links
OU graduate Dave Webster completed his BA (honours) in Humanities with Art History in 2006. Since then he has been working hard on various projects including his recent 6 week touring exhibition of his artwork called ‘The Real Meaning of Life, A Question of Evolution’. Platform caught up with him to find out more about his OU experience, his inspirations and ...
Expanding globally, thinking locally
Peter believes that the most difficult challenge is in helping your existing people to branch out. Managers have their day to day responsibilities to take care of, and yet 90% of next year’s business transactions will go ahead regardless of this, as your existing customers will still need your products and will still order them from you. But Peter feels that to generate that final 10%, to change and move ahead in the future, in fact takes 90% of the managers’ effort.
“When it comes to expanding into the global market, it’s a lot more difficult than it used to be. A lot of managers think they’re too busy, or they don’t have the confidence to recognise which markets to expand into”, says Peter.
In addition to time and confidence challenges, businesses these days must adopt a different modus operandi. Peter talks about what he calls ‘the imperial businesses’ and says that there used to be a time when those companies would send someone out on secondment. He recalls:
“25 years ago you could travel through a ruined looking industrial estate in Uganda, for instance, and still see the signs for Dunlop, ICI Paint and other classic British companies. That just doesn’t happen now. When venturing into new territories you have to take risks. The skill is in reinventing your business so that it fits the local culture, and you have to find the right person to pitch it that way.”
He firmly believes that it doesn’t work to simply transplant your existing business and just badge it with the local country’s flag.
Peter feels that even Devro could afford to take more risks. To give an example, he talks about how sales in Russia were managed when he joined the company four years ago:
“At the time, that market was managed from Devro’s UK base by someone who was Dutch. He was a good trader and was in contact with the four distributors either in person, by telephone or by e-mail. These tactics had evolved by the time our Czech company was created. An office was set up inside the Czech embassy, and a well qualified young Russian meat technologist was employed, someone who had worked in the US for a year. He was given the freedom to get on with the job his own way, and make use of his local knowledge.”
The result?
“He has proved very astute, and has made some great connections with people more disposed to his Slavic-Russian style. Devro took the risk not to dictate his sales approach, and it worked. The Japanese market is handled in a similar way - they are empowered to just get on with it.”
Peter’s advice to his colleagues is to let go of established ways of thinking:
“Westerners feel a sort of superiority, thinking they invented the world of business, and tend to believe that they know what’s best when it comes to sales. Different countries and cultures have probably got different ways of negotiating, different ways of setting their price structures, different ways of managing credit and perhaps different products. It does take some discipline, but the challenge is for the people at head office who control the business to give up that control at the local level in their various global markets.”
Peter shares his insights into expanding into China.
Peter Page is an Open University MBA alumnus, and is currently the CEO of Devro plc, a leading international manufacturer of collagen products for the food industry. Peter shares his insight into the challenges involved in global business expansion. Peter believes that the most difficult challenge is in helping your existing people to branch out. Managers have their ...
Military director on OU MA and life in the Navy
Platform caught up with Mike at the Manchester degree ceremony to find out how his studies helped him advance his career and why he would recommend OU study to anyone in the military.
At what age did you leave school? Did you go straight into the navy and was this what you always wanted to do?
I left school at 18 after my ‘A’ levels which didn’t go very well. In fact my results were F, O, E (because of that my Dad commented that I was my own worst enemy!). I then went and worked for the health service as a Blood Technician but I knew really always wanted to join the military and that it was the Navy I wanted to join as it offered the best opportunities to travel. I started as an apprentice when I was nineteen. I always thought any military career would suit me as my dad was in the forces and I was already used to the lifestyle.
Did you travel round with him as a family when you were younger?
Yes. I don’t know how many schools I went to but we just travelled and travelled: Australia, Germany, Holland, all kinds of places.
You have had an incredible career….. Can you talk us through the roles you have had? How have you progressed?
When I joined the navy I joined as engineering technician (weapons engineering artificer), looking after bits of equipment, modifying them and making sure the ship was ready to fight. I got a bit bored of fixing things so I became an Operations Officer or Warfare Officer as it is known in the Royal Navy. They drive the ship and look after the navigation, weapons and radar systems and actually conduct the operations and fight the ship on behalf of the Captain. I’ve followed a pretty standard naval warfare officer career since then.
We look at the big plan for the operations in Libya (i.e. the military plan) and make sure the organisations and headquarters beneath us are following their own published plans. We guide, control and reset anything that is not going right or according to the commander’s direction and priorities. It’s a big job, and mainly a co-ordination role. It involves looking at where we are in the campaign and how the plans and priorities need to change and how we communicate that to the subordinate Head Quarters. When we say a subordinate that is not meant in any derogatory way it’s just how we work in the military, using a hierarchical system.
You have done a lot of study whilst in the Navy and have just achieved your MA (EPS) (Open) – congratulations! …
Where did you exams take place and how did you manage assignments and sitting exams?
That’s a big question. Most of it, the work and assignments, was done initially at sea. I was very lucky as quite often I was able to get back for my exams, which is not always the case for personnel on deployments. At sea I didn’t find it that difficult because do you have your own space and quiet time and in many ways you need a distraction. Even though you’re really busy working long days, occasionally you need some “me” time and my study became the thing I did for myself. The most difficult time was when we went to war (Gulf war II in 2003). Due to the intensity of the operation it was often hard to find the time to study and complete assignments, or to benefit from interaction with students and tutors on the OU module forum. Also, I was on an American ship so getting assignments back on time was difficult but the OU have always been very flexible.
So I didn’t find it difficult, but it was rather inconvenient at times. I really respect people who are at home with their families and have to do it alongside the pressures family life can bring. As I wasn’t distracted by other things that needed doing at home it was probably easier for me than for most OU students.
Did you have to do any exams whilst you were on the ships?
I did a many of my assignments at sea but most exams I came ashore for at British Forces education centres. I did do a couple of exams when I was posted to Canada and the OU made arrangements for me to sit them locally. I just want to advertise to any British Forces members out there that it’s really good the way the OU works with the Armed forces. The OU staff in the West Midlands region have always been flexible and willing to find a solution that made the exam arrangements fit my unusual circumstances.
Mike talks about how his MA will help him with his career:
Mike McGuire, previously Director, Current Operations Watch at NATO HQ (Operation Unified Protector) has 24 years experience in the Royal Navy. He recently gained his MA in Environment, Policy and Society with the OU and achieved a BA with the OU. Platform caught up with Mike at the Manchester degree ceremony to find out how his ...
Green Glory! OU lecturer scoops Social Marketing Award
The paper explores the different ways that men and women talk about environmental issues, with the hope of incorporating such understanding into more effectively-targeted social marketing.
Find out more about Dr O'Sullivan's research and award in his blog: Marketing Talk
Dr Terry O'Sullivan, Senior Lecturer at the OU, has won the Journal of Social Marketing award for his Paper, which looks at how employees can devise and implement greener working practices. The paper explores the different ways that men and women talk about environmental issues, with the hope of incorporating such understanding into more effectively-targeted social ...
OU delivers first graduates of Youth Justice Foundation Degree
“I’ve got an interest in working with young people in trouble. I’ve not had a privileged life growing up and I’d love to work with the sort of children I grew up with. I have a lot of young people around me who look up to me and listen to me, so maybe I can help them and work with them,” she told Platform just moments after graduating at The Barbican, London, in September - one of the OU’s first Youth Justice graduates.
Open University degree ceremonies in London and Manchester in 2011 award the first graduates of this programme with their degrees – and Nicolle hopes to use it to do work in her local community, helping young people create opportunities for themselves.
“I didn’t realise I was one of the first to complete this course but I’m very proud of myself,” she said. “It was hard work and I’m overwhelmed and relieved to get here.”
Last year a quarter of million children were arrested, including over 22,000 aged 10 to 13 and the recent eruptions of looting, arson and disorder have resulted in the prosecution of children as young as 11.
The Open University, in partnership with the Youth Justice Board, has spent the last five years developing a Foundation Degree to address these questions and equip the people who work with children and young people in the youth justice system with the knowledge and skills to do so more effectively and creatively.
Students will have completed four modules, each involving 32 weeks of study that has to be combined with, and draw from, their work with children and young people in trouble with the law; Nicolle volunteered at a young offenders’ institution.
Working with young children at the moment, Nicolle found the course enjoyable, covering topics like crime, youth crime and law, and which complement the legal secretarial courses and early years foundation courses she’s already completed.
Rod Earle, an ex-youth justice practitioner himself and Lead Academic for youth justice in the OU’s Faculty of Health and Social Care, says: “These students are likely to work with some of the most difficult and challenging young people in our society. They have to combine their care and concern for children’s welfare and rights with conflicting demands for their punishment.
“Working in and around the youth justice system is not easy. It is a complex area of practice in which research and knowledge about young people’s offending behaviour has grown enormously over the last 10 years.”
Nicolle Gordon has just graduated with a Foundation Degree in Youth Justice with the Open University - one of the first graduates of this programme - and will plough her newfound knowledge into helping young people in her own community. “I’ve got an interest in working with young people in trouble. I’ve not had a privileged life growing up and I’d ...
After marriage and children, the MBA is the best thing to happen to Richard
The MBA has brought a change in direction in the 38-year-old’s professional life from operational leadership; he was Head of Sales and Supply for train company Virgin Trains when he began the course, working towards an engagement and strategic role now.
Now heading up employee engagement and internal communications for London Midland, Richard has found that with an MBA under his belt he is now being head-hunted – though his employers need not worry as he loves his job.
Richard said doing the MBA course equipped him with skills which he could apply to his job from the start: “My confidence has grown and now I'm able to look beyond the immediate future and to what I could do with my career,” he said.
Richard had been to university after leaving school, studying leisure management, but later dropped out. He then turned down an offer of a place at another university.
“I couldn’t afford to get down there so I went out to work,” he said. Early jobs included flipping burgers at McDonald’s and sewing together boiler suits in a factory but says he does not regret the route he took learning later in life.
He praised the support he got from the Open University during six years of study from certificate to his MBA and while working. “I have had the best of both worlds,” he said.
Now with a young family he plans to take a break from study – for the moment. “It's funny, I actually miss the academic learning, but I'm able to complement my experience and apply my years of study to my work,” he added.
Richard graduates at the OU's degree ceremony at The Barbican, London, on Friday 16 September.
For Richard Baker gaining his MBA is the best thing that has ever happened to him after marriage and the news he and his wife were expecting their first child. The MBA has brought a change in direction in the 38-year-old’s professional life from operational leadership; he was Head of Sales and Supply for train company Virgin Trains when he began the course, working ...
On getting an MBA, making study buddies and getting a new job after redundancy...
Pam Williams is looking forward to graduation. Not just because it marks the end of almost four years hard work and personal achievement; It’s also a chance to meet up with her ‘study buddies’.
Without them she says, she would not have made it. They helped through those times every student experiences – when the course gets too much and those thankfully few encounters – like when Pam’s husband was diagnosed with cancer.
“I have made fantastic friends for life,” the 55-year-old told Platform.
“My background was in what was called personnel and now HR. B700 was like a light coming on and I knew I wanted to learn more about business. My tutors advised I change to an MBA and I am very happy I did,” she said.
Pam, from Frimley in Surrey, missed out on higher education. Her father died when she was 16 and her mother had died when she was two, and so thoughts of doing A Levels and university were ditched and she went out to work to support her and her brother.
Secretarial jobs led to personnel and the public sector, then into the property sector as HR advisor, then as UK HR Manager for a Canadian company before becoming Head of HR for a computer games firm. She had gathered professional qualifications on the way.
She was made redundant last October but a HR manager’s role in a Fortune 500 company appeared. Her MBA, started with the games company, was not quite in the bag but Pam already had good results and she got the job.
“I was pleased my MBA had opened the door to a very good company,” she said and having a wider perspective of business helped in her HR role.
Getting it was a challenge. Two years into the course her husband Frederick was diagnosed with cancer and he is now recovering.
Pam said the support she got from him, her family, tutors and fellow students was immense. She also urged any OU student to take advantage of the support network, use their tutors and join local study groups
“You should not learn in a bubble and there are so many ways to keep in touch, particularly Skype. There is always someone on the end of the phone when you need them,” she said.
Pam graduates at the OU's degree ceremony at The Barbican, London, on Friday 16 September.
Pam Williams is looking forward to graduation. Not just because it marks the end of almost four years hard work and personal achievement; It’s also a chance to meet up with her ‘study buddies’. Without them she says, she would not have made it. They helped through those times every student experiences – when the course gets too much and those thankfully few encounters ...
