We are really proud of each and every one of our alumni.
You are the evidence of the OU’s success. As such we want to keep you firmly in touch with your university, your subject interests, and your fellow students and alumni. This section of Platform is just one place in which we aim to do that. You'll find more on the full range of our services for alumni below and on our services page.
Former Director of Students receives MBE in Birthday Honours
Will, who retired from the OU in December last year after more than 35 years with the University, becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to higher education.
Will’s career at The Open University spans a lifetime of commitment beginning first as a student, then academic and later Dean and since 2004 as Director, Students where he had responsibility for more than 250,000 students in the UK and overseas.
Since 2004, Will led the University’s strategy and programme in widening participation – to promote and protect the needs of all students whatever their background. In this regard Will made a significant contribution to the achievement of national policy objectives designed to expand educational opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The improvements in the numbers of such students signing up to OU modules followed the development and implementation, under his direction, of a highly-focused approach not just for recruitment but for retention and attainment.
Will’s other achievements during this period include expanding the OU’s outreach service, development of services to the disabled and an enhancement of the University’s work within a prison setting.
With the introduction of the new Higher Education funding environment in the UK, Will proposed the introduction of the Access to Success Route as a way of maintaining the University’s commitment to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This pathway provides a low-risk, low-cost route into Higher Education for students with low income or low self-esteem in studying at HE level.
Congratulating Will on his MBE, Martin Bean, Open University Vice-Chancellor, said: “Will is an exceptional individual who made an outstanding contribution to The Open University and its students during his 35 years with us. As both a friend and a colleague, I am delighted that he has been recognised with this richly deserved honour.”
On receiving his MBE Will said: “I am honoured and delighted by the award. In the eight years I was Director, Students at the OU, my role was to make it possible for our inspiring OU staff to do their best for hundreds of thousands of students, and so to offer them opportunities that would otherwise be denied to them. It was a joy to be able to do that.”
Will Swann, the OU’s recently retired Director of Students has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Will, who retired from the OU in December last year after more than 35 years with the University, becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to higher education. Will’s career at The Open University spans a lifetime of ...
OU welcomes pioneers to campus
The Development Office were hosts to 160 graduates who had the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided walk around campus taking in the artwork, gardens and buildings. Many of the pioneers commented that they wanted to see “where it all began” and to actually visit the campus they had heard so much about during their studies and subsequent years.
The Open University recently held an event to welcome back some of its earliest graduate. The pioneer event not only celebrates the role students played in the growth of the OU but also provided a unique opportunity for many to visit the Milton Keynes campus for the first time. The Development Office were hosts to 160 graduates who had the opportunity to enjoy a self-guided ...
Telephone campaign recruitment - earn extra cash
Based at the Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes, successful candidates can expect to earn £7.95 per hour, whilst knowing that the work they are doing will have a direct impact on the lives of future students.
What does it involve?
As a caller, you’ll be holding telephone conversations with OU graduates (during evenings and weekends), talking to them about the OU's mission of providing education for all, updating their details and asking them to make a donation to our fundraising projects. There will be no cold calling – we’re contacting all our graduates in advance about the campaign, and they can opt out if they prefer. Hear more about what being a caller is like from Marie Coles.
Find out more:
Closing date for applications: Thursday 6 June (5pm)
Previous applicants need not apply
Following three hugely successful telephone campaigns in 2012 – raising more than £250,000 in pledged donations, the Development Office is looking to recruit even more telephone callers to take part in the next fundraising campaign which will run for four weeks in July of this year. Based at the Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes, successful candidates can ...
OU programmes enjoy double win at Royal Television Society Awards
Two Open University/BBC co-produced programmes have won prestigious awards presented by Royal Television Society (RTS). The Secret History of Our Streets won the history category and Protecting Our Children won the documentary category.
The three-part documentary Protecting Our Children, appeared on BBC2 in January 2012 and followed the work of Bristol’s child protection teams and the challenging role social workers face and how changes over the last 10 years have impacted on them and their duty to safeguard children.
Dr Barry Cooper and Dr Lucy Rai, both Senior Lecturers in Social Work in the Faculty of Health and Social Care, were consultants on the series and worked with the production team for over a year giving advice on social work practice and policy development. In addition, Debbie Stringer, Senior Lecturer in Law provided support as part of the module team.
The Royal Television Society is Britain’s leading forum for television and related media. Held annually, the RTS Programme Awards aim to recognise the work of exceptional actors, presenters, writers and production teams, as well as celebrating the programmes themselves.
Find out more:
- Study social work with the OU
- Free social work learning resources
- Secret streets interactive
- Royal Television Society
Posted: 20 March 2013
Two Open University/BBC co-produced programmes have won prestigious awards presented by Royal Television Society (RTS). The Secret History of Our Streets won the history category and Protecting Our Children won the documentary category. The Secret History of Our Streets a series on BBC2 in May last year, returned to six archetypal London streets ranked by Charles Booth in the ...
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides funding for OU students in Uganda and Kenya
This announcement follows previous awards sponsored by the Department for International Development since 2008. The OU has strong links with Uganda and Kenya because of its working partnership with the Kulika Trust in Uganda, a charitable trust specialising in the provision of educational scholarships for students in East Africa.
Before awarding the funding the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s Distance Learning Committee looked in depth at a variety of criteria including the use of technologies; recruitment and targeting of students; success rates of previous cohorts; data of course completion rates for 'developing' country students; and the intended development impact of course activities as well as subsequent career information of alumni.
Richard Pinder, Development Management Qualification Director at The Open University (OU) said, "This continued funding highlights the commitment to providing educational opportunities to people in East Africa. Our aim is to enable those who study with the OU to engage with the challenges of global development and equip them with the knowledge to address and implement development strategies.”
The importance of such opportunities for students in Uganda and Kenya is evident by the feedback from those who have completed the MSc in Development Management.
“Obtaining a MSc Development Management opens higher positions in the development field as I am able to compete favourably with other peers in the field and my employer values me and already they have committed to take me on as a Program Manager as a replacement of an expat who will be leaving.”(Extract from the 2008 cohort feedback).
“Initially I was recruited as a project manager but three months after my recruitment I was promoted to a senior manager upon recognition of the way I engaged with issues which basically is as a result of the interaction with the course materials.” (Extract from the 2009 cohort feedback)
“A direct example [of my qualification] is my involvement in several tripartite negotiations and discussions between the United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP), local grain traders/businessmen and the rural smallholder farmers in Northern Uganda. In 2010, I worked as a senior program assistant in the Purchase for Progress project that the UNWFP was funding and implementing to boost rural incomes and strengthen smallholder farmer organizations and institutions. I contributed my efforts training the rural farmers and helped build their grassroots organizations to enable them market their grains directly to WFP and increased their negotiation power given that they were often cheated in the open markets by the grain traders. This is a direct benefit to local development from my studies.” (Extract from the 2008 cohort feedback).
The MSc in Development Management, with Development Policy and Practice, was launched in 1996. It now has more than 1,000 alumni. To date students in more than 100 countries have studied the OU’s development management modules.
Find out more:
- The scholarships
The OU has secured £235,000 of funding from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission to support 15 students from Uganda and Kenya on the MSc in development management. The cohort will start studying in November 2013. This announcement follows previous awards sponsored by the Department for International Development since 2008. The OU has strong links with Uganda and ...
Inspiring study and leaving the labels behind
David Godson lost his left arm in an industrial accident when he was just 16, but he refused to let other people’s expectations stop him doing what he wanted. After a successful first career in the automotive industry, David was ready for a big challenge. An OU degree helped him overcome other people’s ideas of what he could and couldn’t do.
David’s degree opened up a career path for him in the Probation Service. His newfound self-belief led to a series of senior positions in the Probation Service, with David authoring several articles on probation strategy and even setting up his own business providing services to the Home Office and other criminal justice agencies.
Now David is keen to support people whose confidence may have been blunted by other people’s attitudes to their disability. The David Godson Disability Award will encourage people who find society’s labels are creating an unnecessary barrier.
“Studying for an Open University degree transformed my life and I took on challenges I was previously led to believe were beyond me,” says David. “The term ‘disability’ can have an unintentional impact on people with physical disabilities and can adversely affect their self-esteem. If the David Godson Disability Award can make a small contribution toward others setting out on a voyage of discovery and believing in themselves, its aims will have been achieved.”
The award offers financial support to qualifying new, disabled students studying a level one 30 or 60 credit module (excluding Openings) towards their first degree. Qualifying disabilities are the loss, or permanent paralysis, of one or more limbs, and/or severe permanent mobility impairment.
The awards will cover up to 40 per cent of the cost with the maximum award being £1,000.
OU alumnus David Godson has been inspired to help others overcome the barriers he faced whilst achieving an OU degree through the David Godson Disability Award. David Godson lost his left arm in an industrial accident when he was just 16, but he refused to let other people’s expectations stop him doing what he wanted. After a successful first career in the ...
Who is in your network?
The calibre of members in this exclusive club continues to grow. From those whose OU qualifications mean progression at work, a career change or personal growth as well as a long list of honorary graduates including famous names from arts, business, science, sport and politics.
“It’s inspiring to see the work that universities are doing, not just for their own students and community but how engaged they are with the local community too.” Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties), OU honorary graduate.
“While working as a manager, I developed many people to their next stage as managers. This only happened because of what I learned from The Open University.” Rakesh Kumar, Retail Duty Manager, BP.
“When most men have a midlife crisis they go for younger women and motorbikes. I went for a BSc with The Open University.” Joe Pasquale, Comedian.
“The beauty of the OU is that people come back when they feel they’re ready to but they also have the flexibility, which makes a real difference.” Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson 11 x Paralympic gold medallist, honorary graduate
“Years afterwards, the same MBA concepts come to mind when facing business challenges, and I’m sure I will continue to benefit from the OU experience in business for many years to come.” Roger Dewell, Space Communications and Technology Consultant Managing Director, High Q Systems Ltd
“I have lots of navy qualifications but I did it because I wanted to give myself another option when I left the navy. I’ve already made my first move to look for a job.” Mike McGuire, Maritime Operations Officer
The calibre of members in this exclusive club continues to grow. From those whose OU qualifications mean progression at work, a career change or personal growth as well as a long list of honorary graduates including famous names from arts, business, science, sport and politics. “It’s inspiring to see the work that universities are doing, not just for their ...
Prime Minister welcomes Futurelearn expansion
On a trade visit to India the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has welcomed news that more top partners are joining Futurelearn, the UK’s first provider of free, open online courses from multiple top-ranking institutions.
The announcement was made as six of the Futurelearn partners take part in a major business and skills mission to India with the Prime Minister. Welcoming the news, David Cameron said:
"Britain boasts some of the best universities in the world. This innovative new offer led by The Open University will mean that Indian students can access some of the best teaching and learning online from their home in Mumbai or Delhi. I'm delighted that Futurelearn is expanding to include more British universities and the British Library. I hope it will encourage many more Indian students to take the next step and study with a UK university."
Welcoming the new partners, Open University Vice-Chancellor and Chairman of Futurelearn, Martin Bean said:
“We’re in the middle of an exciting time for higher education in which anything is possible. I am delighted that these iconic institutions - the British Library and five top universities - have joined us on our journey to make Futurelearn the world’s best source of free, open, online courses. I’m convinced that Futurelearn will quickly become a great, innovative British export. We’re building on the country’s 800-year history of higher education to deliver a best in class teaching and learning experience that will benefit students all over the world”.
Simon Nelson, CEO of Futurelearn, said: “I am thrilled that more of the UK’s top institutions have joined Futurelearn, which will bring the best of UK teaching to students worldwide. Until now, this market has been dominated by companies based in the US, but with 18 UK partners, we are determined to provide the smartest and most engaging online learning experiences and revolutionise conventional models of education.”
Martin Bean has been joined on the delegation to India by Vice-Chancellors from the universities of Cardiff, Exeter, Southampton and Warwick and the Chief Executive of the British Library.
Futurelearn was launched on 14 December 2012. It is an online platform that will make courses from the UK’s best universities and institutions available online for free. It will establish the UK as a global leader in online higher education (HE), offering world-class UK university courses to students throughout the world.
In addition, it will strengthen the UK HE Sector by:
- Maintaining the world-leading brand of UK HE, which currently has 18 of the top 100 universities
- Building an international growth opportunity within the UK HE sector, where direct exports in 2008/09 were £7.9bn
- Building innovation in UK HE by developing world-leading online teaching and learning practices.
British Library Chief Executive, Roly Keating said:
“FutureLearn is an exciting development in higher education, with the potential to enable mass access to valuable resources and teaching anywhere in the world, for free. As the home of a growing set of unique and valuable digital resources, the British Library is looking forward to partnering with The Open University and widening access to our collections for even more researchers online worldwide as the initiative develops.”
Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said:
“Our involvement with Futurelearn is driven by a desire to increase the range of ways by which those who wish to study with us can experience the outstanding quality of the learning opportunities we offer. We look forward to launching our first programmes shortly”.
Professor Sir Robert Burgess, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester, said:
“As a leading provider of global higher education courses via distance learning for many years, Leicester is well placed to enhance the world class offer of Futurelearn. Leicester has a wealth of experience in delivering high quality educational packages across the globe and Futurelearn provides further opportunities for students to access the best of British higher education. As the UK’s most socially inclusive top-20 University, the opening up of higher education provision internationally accords with our ‘Elite without being Elitist’ status. By working together with a range of other leading UK universities, Leicester will make a distinctive contribution to the education of a wider range of participants through our decades of experience of delivering higher education through distance learning.”
Professor David Greenaway, Vice-Chancellor of The University of Nottingham said:
“Futurelearn has the potential to be transformational. It will help leverage the high quality academic resources and innovative technologies that UK higher education has to offer. The breadth of access will capture a wider cohort of learners than is traditionally possible, further affirming the underpinning altruistic principles by which UK universities operate. The University of Nottingham’s unique global footprint will be further enhanced by this development, and we look forward to working in collaboration with The Open University in this venture.”
Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast, said:
“Queen’s is delighted to be a partner in this exciting collaboration, which will extend access to our high quality educational content to students around the world. Increasing accessibility to higher education is an objective to which Queen’s is committed and this important initiative has the potential to provide opportunities to new audiences worldwide, including those who might not normally engage with universities.”
Sir David Bell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, said:
“We are excited by the prospect of harnessing the very latest technology to provide a worldwide audience with opportunities to access high-quality, research-led teaching. Futurelearn will build on our existing technology-enhanced learning activities and will be an online addition to the global reach of many of our other projects, including our new campus development in Malaysia. We hope it will also provide a window into the latest thinking of University of Reading academics working in areas of international significance, such as climate science, nutrition and food security.”
Futurelearn was launched by The Open University and the new partners join existing partners from the universities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, East Anglia, Exeter, King’s College London, Lancaster, Leeds, Southampton, St Andrews and Warwick.
The first Futurelearn courses will be open to students in the second half of 2013.
On a trade visit to India the Prime Minister, David Cameron, has welcomed news that more top partners are joining Futurelearn, the UK’s first provider of free, open online courses from multiple top-ranking institutions. Futurelearn, which is owned by The Open University (OU), has signed an agreement with the British Library (BL) to develop online courses using BL ...
Volunteers needed: become a School governor
School governors are the largest group of volunteers in education. They support and challenge the Head Teacher, set the strategic direction for the school and monitor and evaluate progress. As members of the school’s governing body, governors have the opportunity to significantly develop their skills and competencies.
A report carried out by The City of London showed that 67 per cent of school governor volunteers had improved influencing and negotiation skills compared with 43 per cent of the total sample. 71 per cent of school governors reported a skills gain in team working in comparison to 43 per cent of the total sample. Volunteers also reported that taking on the role of school governor was extremely useful
for developing hard business skills, such as an increased business awareness and financial skills like planning and budgets*.
SGOSS have also launched a new short film this week, “We’re the people…” which follows four volunteers in their workplaces and shows how they use their skills to support children, education and schools.
SGOSS CEO Liz McSheehy says:
“There is a common misconception that school governors are just parents of children at a school. We wanted to showcase that this volunteer opportunity is all-inclusive and a vital part of school improvement. Becoming a school governor allows a broad range of people to enact real change in education as well as enabling people to develop
practical business skills.”
Have you thought about volunteering and using your OU skills to help a school? Education charity ‘SGOSS – Governors for Schools’ has launched a new campaign which highlights the personal benefits of volunteering in a quest to help fill 30,000 school governor vacancies across England. School governors are the largest group of volunteers in education. They ...
Online conference: starting a web-based business
The conference is a two-day event that allows students across the country to be immersed in a connected experience that will inspire them to start new web-based enterprises.
This event is free, but you have to register in advance.
Find out more:
- Virtual Enterprise Conference
- Careers advice and news from the OU
- OU course: B322 Investigating entrepreneurial opportunities
Published: 13 February 2013
Want to make, sell or do business online? Join over 500 students and digital geeks for the 4th annual Virtual Enterprise Conference held virtual and at Birmingham Science Park on 19-20 March. The conference is a two-day event that allows students across the country to be immersed in a connected experience that will inspire them to start new web-based enterprises. This event is ...
Do you want to work in TV?
To kickstart your career, apply to The Network! The Network is a FREE intensive introduction to working in the TV industry, run by the world’s leading TV festival.
The training will take place in Edinburgh 21 – 24 August 2013. NO qualifications are needed! The scheme is open to anyone aged 18+ could be the first step for and is the first step for anyone wanting to kick start a career in TV.
Find out more:
To kickstart your career, apply to The Network! The Network is a FREE intensive introduction to working in the TV industry, run by the world’s leading TV festival. Get one of the 65 places on The Network and you’ll spend 4 days in Edinburgh learning practical TV making skills from top programme makers. You’ll receive insider insights and careers advice as ...
New Graduate representative on Senate
We’re delighted to announce that alumnus Chris Goscomb has been appointed as the Graduate representative on Senate, for the next four years. Chris, who completed his BSc Psychology in 2000, has expressed his excitement at taking on this role.
Chris has been working in Organisational Development for the last twenty years leading and facilitating change in London Underground, Eurotunnel, easyJet, Shell and currently Arriva. His experience also reaches into recruitment and he hopes to use this perspective to further opportunities for the OU graduate.
Chris is available at alumni@open.ac.uk, and we would encourage you to voice your opinions to Chris regarding matters raised at Senate. Whilst Chris has only been on board since mid-January he attended his first Senate meeting in February. He is looking forward to gathering views and opinions in the coming weeks.
We’d also like to thank all of those who applied to be considered for this position, and to alumni Loretta Smith, Steve Garratt and Anne Jelfs who shortlisted and interviewed candidates. To all of you we offer our thanks and appreciation for your passionate support of the OU.
We’re delighted to announce that alumnus Chris Goscomb has been appointed as the Graduate representative on Senate, for the next four years. Chris, who completed his BSc Psychology in 2000, has expressed his excitement at taking on this role. "The Open University has given my life a real boost – and it is time to give something back. I am really looking ...
Regius Professorship for the OU
This award was made to mark the Diamond Jubilee. It is particularly significant for both the OU and Professor Scanlon, as prior to the recent announcement only two others have been awarded a Regius Professorship in the last century. Before then, the most recent Regius Professorship was created by Queen Victoria.
IET is one of twelve university departments to have been bestowed upon this prestigious award. All entries were assessed by an expert panel which included eminent academics led by Sir Graeme Davies, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of London.
Commenting on her award Professor Scanlon said, “I am delighted that the OU has been given this significant award and that the Institute of Educational Technology has been recognised as an outstanding department. My late parents were both Open University graduates and my mother celebrated her graduation in the first ceremony held at Alexandra Palace in 1973. They would have been thrilled their university was honoured in this way.”
Professor Scanlon’s nomination was supported by the OU’s Vice-Chancellor, Martin Bean, Professor Tim Blackman, the OU’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Research & Scholarship and Professor Josie Taylor, Director of IET at the OU.
Professor Tim Blackman said, “It is fantastic that Profession Scanlon’s achievements have been recognised by such a prestigious award. Her commitment has driven up standards of open education across the world through intelligent use of technology for which the OU has a global reputation.”
Professor Scanlon is an internationally recognised luminary in the field of educational technology and public understanding of science. During her 37 years of service to the OU, Professor Scanlon has developed a pedagogic insight which has exerted a major impact on the direction of OU research in these areas.
IET is at the hub of the OU’s continuing research into, and development of, the latest open educational technologies for learning and teaching, enabling the University to deliver quality at scale. This is also a fitting way of recognising the 50th anniversary of the announcement of a ‘University of the Air’, the idea from which the OU was born.
The Regius Professorship in Open Education is the latest in a string of prestigious awards for the OU. In 2009 the OU was awarded the Queen’s anniversary prize for exceptional contributions by a higher educational institution to the wider community for its ground-breaking Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa programme (TESSA). And in 2012 Dr Mark Brandon Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at The Open University, won Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the Time Higher Education Awards.
Find out more:
Professor Eileen Scanlon of the OU’s Institute of Educational Technology (IET), has been awarded the first Regius Professorship in Open Education. This award was made to mark the Diamond Jubilee. It is particularly significant for both the OU and Professor Scanlon, as prior to the recent announcement only two others have been awarded a Regius Professorship in the last ...
Internship vacancies at Santander
Santander are currently recruiting for three internship vacancies.
Visit the OU careers website to find out more:
Santander are currently recruiting for three internship vacancies. Visit the OU careers website to find out more: Smart Card Internship Relationship Internship Operations Internship
Volunteers needed: Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
Glasgow 2014 Ltd’s mission to deliver a fantastic Games and the success will depend on staff and Volunteers coming together as a skilled, collaborative team.
Previous Games Volunteers have described their experience as life changing and people who give up their time to Volunteer for Glasgow 2014 can expect a wide range of personal and developmental benefits.
Applications close on 28 February 2013.
Find out more:
Applications are now open for volunteers who would like to be part of the Commonwealth Games, Glasgow 2014. Glasgow 2014 Ltd’s mission to deliver a fantastic Games and the success will depend on staff and Volunteers coming together as a skilled, collaborative team. Previous Games Volunteers have described their experience as life changing and people who give up their ...
Earn extra cash as a telephone caller on the OU’s fundraising campaign
Are you looking to earn some extra money?
Following three hugely successful telephone campaigns in 2012 – raising more than £250,000 in pledged donations, the Development Office is looking to recruit even more telephone callers to take part in the fundraising campaigns which will run for four weeks in April and July of this year.
Based at the Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes, successful candidates can expect to earn £7.87 per hour, whilst knowing that the work they are doing will have a direct impact on the lives of future students.
As a caller, you’ll be holding telephone conversations with OU graduates (during evenings and weekends), talking to them about the OU's mission of providing education for all, updating their details and asking them to make a donation to our fundraising projects. There will be no cold calling – we’re contacting all our graduates in advance about the campaign, and they can opt out of receiving a phone call if they prefer. Hear more about what being a caller is like from Marie Coles.
Find out more:
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 30th January 2013 (5pm)
Previous applicants need not apply
Are you looking to earn some extra money? Following three hugely successful telephone campaigns in 2012 – raising more than £250,000 in pledged donations, the Development Office is looking to recruit even more telephone callers to take part in the fundraising campaigns which will run for four weeks in April and July of this year. Based at the Walton Hall campus in Milton ...
Enter the Lloyds TSB Enterprise Awards
The 2013 Enterprise Awards aims to celebrate innovation, drive and dedication and will also provide winners with national recognition and business support.
The criteria for entries is as follow:
Who can enter the Enterprise Awards?
You can enter the awards if:
- You founded, or co-founded, your own business
- you are either currently a university student, or you have graduated in the past five years
- you are 18 years of age or over
- your business is based in England, Scotland or Wales
- your business has been trading for more than one year
What will you need to enter?
There are a number of eligibility questions, followed by four broad questions including your business proposition, business model, business challenges and how you would spend the prize money – as well as a section about your financial performance (turnover, gross profit and margins earned since 2011 and forecasted until 2016). Therefore, you may want to gather some information before you sit down to complete your application form.
Find out more about the awards
Have you founded or co-founded your own business? If you are a budding entrepreneur and OU student or recent graduate then enter the Lloyds TSB awards for a chance to win a £50,000 cash investment. The 2013 Enterprise Awards aims to celebrate innovation, drive and dedication and will also provide winners with national recognition and business support. The ...
OU scientists pay tribute to Sir Patrick Moore
Sir Patrick Moore 1923-2012
Patrick’s BBC programme The Sky at Night first aired in 1957, and in recent decades numerous OU academics have appeared as guests. The most recent edition of Sky at Night featured the OU’s Dr David Rothery.
Patrick was a well-wisher of the OU, and appeared on at least two programmes: Live from Mars (1997), a live broadcast carrying the first pictures from the surface of Mars for nearly 20 years, and OU/BBC co-production Destination Titan last year. Many of us had vigorous discussions with him, particularly over his "blimpish" political views, and enjoyed convivial food and drink with him at his house in Sussex.
After wartime service in the RAF, Patrick became a school teacher and developed his interest in astronomy. He became a renowned lunar observer, and began to write books. He served as President of the British Astronomical Association and the Society for Popular Astronomy. Equally at ease with the likes of Neil Armstrong or an inquisitive schoolchild, Patrick was knighted in 2001 for “services to the popularisation of science and to broadcasting” and in 2002 was awarded with a Bafta (presented to him by Buzz Aldrin).
Astronomers and planetary scientists at The Open University are united in mourning the passing of Sir Patrick Moore; broadcaster, astronomer, cricketer and eccentric. Sir Patrick was disseminating science via TV way before the OU, and had enormous and beneficial influence over three generations of burgeoning scientists. Sir Patrick Moore 1923-2012 Patrick’s BBC ...
Just a taster of OU study leads to degree ambitions
Through a taster session run by the OU’s community partnership scheme, at Castle Green Children’s Centre where Kerry was volunteering, she found out about Openings courses and how she could get financial assistance to study with the OU.
Discovering Openings Courses
At the taster session I met Gaynor Gardner (OU Community Partnerships Manager) and she highlighted the pros and cons of Open University study to me. We discussed my current situation, that I was studying level 2 counselling skills at my local FE College in the evenings and how I could not afford the fees for the diploma study. I found out the OU helps to support people like me and that my Openings courses would be fully funded by the OU.
Flexible study fits in with family life
My discussion with Gaynor opened my eyes to studying from home. It would mean I could fit my study in around my son who was barely two at the time and being sent to my parents while I attended college one night per week. I no longer had to alter his routine, I could work from home and attend a weekly study group with other students where I learnt study skills which built a foundation for me when writing my assignments. It was so helpful having a study group of other mature students who, like me, had slumps in study motivation. They were always there to encourage me and I was elated when I received a distinction on the Openings module Y183 Starting with Psychology.
Taking studies to the next level
Following the Openings course I am now studying towards a BSc (Honours) Psychology and have done several modules towards this degree.
An increased confidence and new opportunities
I have increased confidence in my abilities and feel happy to promote OU study wherever I go. I have been lucky enough to speak about my OU experience at the NIACE conference 2012 and at a recent Vice-Chancellor’s Lunch and publicly thank Gaynor and the OU for the support, guidance and structure they have given to my studies and my life.
I chair my local Children’s Centre Parent Forum and the Barking and Dagenham borough-wide Parent Board. Through OU study I have realised that, as a parent and a student, I have a voice.
Setting goals
I had a goal 18 months ago to become a counsellor but because of my studies and the opportunities I’ve had, I now visit the weekly study group for new OU Openings students and speak with them about how they are finding their studies and encourage them to believe in themselves as students and their work.
As a result of this work I have a new goal. Once I have completed my degree I intend to study further and become a teacher/tutor for adult learners.
Volunteering and supporting new OU students
I have just been offered the opportunity to facilitate a short training course in conjunction with a local Children’s Centre where I will be teaching parents about internet safety and cyberbullying and I will continue my studies with OU whilst volunteering in my various roles, and I will be attending the weekly study groups at Castle Green Children’s Centre to speak with the new students and give them the encouragement and guidance that I received. My fellow students from Dagenham (where the children’s centre is based) have become an extended family and we are all there to support one another and this is what we like to encourage in all new students.
Support during your studies
My greatest challenge was earlier this year when my mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer She became very ill very quickly and passed away 12 weeks after diagnosis. Around this time I was completing two modules DSE141 and SDK125 and I was due to start D240. I had end of module assignments to submit and an exam date for SDK125. Student services gave me such wonderful support, deferring my exam so I was able to spend precious time with my parents and sibling in my mums final days. My biggest fear was that I would be in an exam room far away when she passed away and thanks to student support I was able to be with her and concentrate on making her comfortable instead of cramming for an examination. My tutors were brilliantly supportive granting me extensions on assignments, This is where I feel OU differs from other higher education establishments as I doubt I would have been able to continue studying elsewhere. I feel this was also my greatest success as I was able to complete all three modules.
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Thanks in part to donor support, Kerry Nichols began studying with the OU on a fully funded Openings Course in 2011 and is now on the way to achieving her degree. She always had a desire to learn but the cost of studying was holding her back. Through a taster session run by the OU’s community partnership scheme, at Castle Green Children’s Centre where Kerry was ...
Would you like to be involved in the decision-making processes of the OU?
Our alumni play an important guiding role within the University’s community. We are looking to appoint an OU graduate to Senate to be involved in the decision-making processes of the OU and representing the graduate body of the University.
Senate is the academic authority of the University which, subject to the powers of the Council, is responsible for promoting the academic work of the University both in teaching and research. For further information, please view our Senate Constitution and Membership document.
As the graduate representative on Senate, starting in February 2013 for a term of four years, you will be invited to attend four meetings a year at the OU main campus in Milton Keynes (reasonable travel expenses will be paid). Full details of the role and responsibilities can be found in our Introduction to Senate Meetings document.
To apply please complete our online form, stating why, in no more than 200 words, you (or someone else) would be the best OU graduate to represent the alumni body on Senate. Deadline for submission is 17:00 on 20 November 2012. We will contact all nominees in January 2013 with the outcome of their nomination. Those shortlisted will be called to interview.
Our alumni play an important guiding role within the University’s community. We are looking to appoint an OU graduate to Senate to be involved in the decision-making processes of the OU and representing the graduate body of the University. Senate is the academic authority of the University which, subject to the powers of the Council, is responsible for promoting the academic work of the ...
