Alumni Relations

The Open University has changed in the past 40 years dramatically but someone remembers those early days. Olga Camm, honorary graduate and student from 1971, shares her memories of how it all began.

"It was a very mixed bunch of students but exciting, life was exciting,” says Olga.

In the late 1960s The Open University was unknown. The idea that anyone could go to university was considered by many to be ridiculous and if you did you wouldn't have a 'real' degree.

“It was something that was so new nobody knew anything about it except the papers headlines, usually 'Mickey Mouse degrees'. It was with much trepidation those early students and I embarked on courses not knowing what the content of the courses would be.” says Olga.

Starting out with a Science Foundation course Olga was wary of taking it on. Her only experience of science had come from reading science fiction books when she was a child as girls didn’t study science at school. But after studying a bit more each week than the recommended 15 hours she was passing the courses with really good marks.

The OU used its first students to try out new material on the courses and Olga says wasn't afraid to do so.

“Everything you were learning was at the very forefront. You felt you were part of progress and this was something that came very gradually against the voices that said ‘it’s not worth bothering with’.”

The students studying with the OU in the first years were from all differnt backgrounds. As Olga explains, the tutors soon realised they really had to find out who they were teaching as some were experts in their fields.

At a summer school Olga says " I recall a lecturer putting chemistry formulas on a board and someone yelling from the back of the room “rubbish”. The gentleman was invited by the tutor to come up to the board and put the right answer up. It turned out he was in charge at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) of a chemistry department. He was a world expert on it but hadn’t done the education at university."

Olga’s honorary degree with The Open University was awarded for her contributions to the University. She was instrumental in the setup of informal student groups before the Open University Students Association (OUSA) existed and later on the Association of University Graduates (AOUG).

In 1969 as the first OU courses started, there was no Sudent Association but Olga quickly realised the value of communicating with her fellow students and support network it created. 

“You were back in primitive times in terms of communication but we found we needed to hold together so I made a students group before the OU had time to form OUSA. If you didn’t form a group there was no other sole in the whole town who wanted to talk to you on this Mickey Mouse thing.”

In 1987 the OU officially formed OUSA and Olga having run the earlier unofficial student group acted as an advisor to the chairman. Olga had by now graduated but she certainly wasn’t finished with the OU. Upon hearing of lots of groups of OU graduates forming all over the UK she and others approached the university to set up an independent fee paying graduate association. They succeeded and Olga became the Chairman of the AOUG who still run today alongside The Open University’s own Alumni Association which was set up in the 1980s as the number of graduates increased. The two are now complimentary; the AOUG supplements the OU magazines, events and enewsletters into their own social events and OMEGA magazines.

Comparing OU students of the past to the present, Olga remembers fondly those from the start of The Open University: “They are really very different band to the average student who would be coming in now who think the OU is a good thing, I’ll have a go at it.”

But she believes the OU offers so many opportunities to the new students: “I think there is a bright future because of all the people who are graduating after studying with the OU. They continue to want to support their university.”
   
 

Recent graduate Jake Smith has just gained a big promotion at work to Senior Marketing Manager at Legal & General. He believes his OU degree and commitment to studies were very positively received during his job interview and played a part in him successfully getting the job.“It shows employers that if you put your mind to something you can achieve it.”

Jake initially studied with the OU to improve his knowledge of web design but decided to continue on to a degree. Platform caught up with him at his degree ceremony in Brighton.

 

First course led to a degree
Once I saw the breadth of courses the OU offered and realised that my qualification would be able to count towards a degree it was even more attractive. I had taken a number of one day training courses with professional training companies through work and though useful they were not in depth enough and really only taught you parrot fashion rather than explaining theory as well as practice and giving you the opportunity to really learn.”

Dreams of becoming a rock star
I had "dropped out" of a degree straight after school to try and be a rock star, with (unfortunately) limited success, 15 years later it felt like unfinished business and so the OU with its flexibility, great reputation and value for money seemed ideal. I knew that I would not be able to afford to do a full time course as my wife was self employed and pregnant with our first child, but I thought that with the wide range of courses I could find a route that would help me develop and give me new opportunities.”

Work supported studies
The OU certificate was really helpful to my role at Legal & General, I was in a role that was very new at my company, there was no real training available in house and so we looked externally. The reputation of the OU meant that my employers were supportive and understood the benefit of me studying, paying for my courses and giving me some study time. The skills I gained from the course really helped me develop in my role and led to a promotion and helped me identify a future career path and gain recognition for my skills and knowledge at work.

Once I had finished the course I discovered that I really enjoyed learning with the OU and so I continued with additional modules which were not work related to complete my degree. My employers were still supportive of my study, giving me interest free loans for the courses. Although my degree ended up being in a different field (Music and technology) many of the skills I developed, such as the ability to take in a large amount of information and make sense of it, writing properly structured essays and managing my time were extremely useful.

Internal promotion at work
Although I am still at the same company, I have been able to move into new areas of the business and can justify my claim that I am a quick learner and able to adapt and take on new skills.

A CV certainly looks much stronger with a degree on it (especially a First Class one!) this is really important when a recruiting manager is making decisions on who to interview. Having the OU on my CV has sparked a question in every interview since I starting studying, and has always been seen in a really positive light. The reputation for quality helps, but so does the recognition of the commitment it takes to study whilst holding down a full time job and starting a family!

Advice for those thinking of doing a degree
The advice I would give is to go for it! You shouldn't underestimate the effort required, but as with most things in life, you get out what you put in. There's no need to put it off, I managed to gain my degree at the same time as holding down a full time job and my wife giving birth to two children. Most importantly make sure you choose something you really want to study or learn about, that way the work always feels meaningful and worthwhile. The huge range of courses available and the quality of the teaching materials, plus the support from tutors and fellow students meant that I really enjoyed my time studying with the OU, in fact where is the prospectus, I reckon I could do some more!
 
A quote from Jake’s manager: John Laney Head of Marketing, Legal & General
“Jake started his study for the OU with a course on web design that was supported by Legal & General and gave him an excellent grounding in the skills and knowledge necessary for his role. The company has a policy of supporting wider learning and we were happy to do so for Jake. As his current manager I would say that his personal development during his study and the successful completion of his degree were positive contributions in his career development. A good degree from a respected University is a key factor in today's world for securing more senior professional positions.”

Find out more:

• Study with the OU
• Career advisory service  

 

Gabriele has just set up a group to find creative writing partners. Join the group and post a message to find out more.

maybe, just maybe there's someone out there who writes and knows what it is like; someone who has studied at the OU and has experienced the valuable critique and encouragement of her/his study partner. With this group I hope to bring these potential writing partners together. Just drop in a word to say what you do and what you're looking for.

Open University Honorary Graduate Jocelyn Bell Burnell recently appeared on the BBC's Hardtalk.

She discusses 'How science is a man's world' as she experienced following the discovery of radio pulsars in the 1960s. This was hailed as a great astronomical leap forward but when it came to a Nobel Prize the woman on the team was left off the list.

'Women in business' is a constantly debated subject. Keep an eye on OpenLearn for details of 'Women in the Boardroom' an exciting new OU / BBC co-production and accompanying interactive.
 

With his OU degree complete, Colin Hume can tick off another item on the ‘to do’ list he compiled following his retirement. And now, with a BA, BSc and Post Graduate Diploma under his belt, he wants the chance to help someone else enjoy the experience of OU study by making a donation in his sister’s memory.

Joyce didn’t go to university herself but started work aged 13 following the outbreak of the Second World War. Over the years she was always interested in Colin’s studies and would have enjoyed further study, he says. Even in her later years when she sadly developed Alzheimer’s, she was incredibly quick and could do mental arithmetic faster than anyone else he knew.

Looking back Colin says: “I’d say ‘what is 5x17?’ and she would come back with the answer so quickly. We had to learn times tables at school by heart in those days and at the time it’s a nuisance but later in life you realise how valuable it is. One of the young carers who looked after my sister commented that she was quicker than a computer.”

Because of this link, Colin made a donation to help future students at the OU.
“In particular I’d like to support students with disabilities but support anybody who would have benefited from a university education, but couldn't afford it.”

Colin personally gained a huge amount from his studies. He enjoyed the social aspects: meeting tutors and fellow students, both in person and online and learned some things about himself.

“It’s taught me to be a bit more patient with people as we are all at different levels of experience and comprehension; that I don’t know everything and the importance of continuing education for people if they get the chance to do it.”

After quite a few years of OU study, Colin is taking a break to pursue another item on his to do list: writing a book.

“I’ve decided I’d like to write a prescriptive grammar book and am basing it on some notes I have from grammar school in the 1940s.”
And after that? Who knows….?

Find out more:

• Leave gift in your Will
• OU projects supported by donations
• Services for disabled students

An exhibition is taking place (22 May-16 June 2012) to celebrate the work of OU Honorary Graduate Rita Greer, who has been an artist and craftsman for 60 years.

Rita is probably best known as the artist who ‘created a face’ for Robert Hooke (1635-1703), regarded as one of the greatest English scientists. His work was overshadowed by that of Sir Isaac Newton. Much mystery surrounds the conflicts which existed between Hooke and Newton and ‘gossip’ suggests that Newton would have burnt any portraits if they did exist.

Rita’s interest in Hooke first started after reading an article in The Daily Telegraph by Oxford academic, Dr Allan Chapman on the tercentenary of Robert Hooke’s death.

“He was saying how awful it was that he had been swept under the carpet and he didn’t have any memorials in London where he worked for nearly 40 years. I started to research him and I was absolutely appalled by the way he’d been treated. I looked on the internet and there were various images of him which looked like they’d come out of a cartoon or Harry Potter film and the poor man was made out to be a sort of monster and yet he did so much for this country.”

Using almost scientific descriptions of him written by his colleagues enabled Rita to create her first portrait and has now created many which she makes available for all to see.

“I put my work on wikimedia to make pictures free to everyone. It’s great to give it away and its opened lots of doors for me. People ask me how much my exhibition is worth and I say ‘60 years of my life’. I’m also making a video with commentary for people who are disabled as there is unfortunately no access for them to the exhibition.”

The OU names many of its buildings after key scientist or academics and the Science Faculty resides in a building named after Robert Hooke. One of Rita's portraits currently hangs there.

From the 1970s Rita has been lecturing and broadcasting on both radio and TV. She has held major mixed exhibitions of jewellery, gold-smithing and enamels in London and Oxford, and solo exhibitions on miniatures.

Despite having published two books on art/crafts and lettering, 23 books on nutrition/health/special cookery for people with special needs and three books as co-author, Rita still describes herself as someone who “goes with the flow.”

For those who aspire to be artists Rita gives the following advice:

“I think if you are going to do anything creative like writing or arts in particular it’s a very good idea to have a second string to your bow because there will be times when you are bottom of the ladder and you need to be able to turn your hand to something else to earn a living. And secondly don’t give up!”

Find out more:

• Details of Rita's exhibition
• Study an Arts and Humanities qualification

Louise and Phil Jenkins, both registered blind,  graduated at the OU degree ceremony in Torquay, overcoming their inability to read and realising a dream they never thought possible.

Louise, 47, gained a first class honours degree in literature, studying Shakespeare, Dickens and other classics, as well as modern drama, philosophy and creative writing. Her husband Phil, 46, graduated with an honours degree in psychology, which is recognised by the British Psychological Society.

Louise had to give up on her degree in Astrophysics at Manchester University when she suddenly lost her sight aged 30 and while bringing up her three-year-old daughter.

She said: “Coping with sudden sight loss, accepting new limitations and giving up on a long held dream was a tough experience that took many years to adjust to. I still needed a great deal of determination and commitment to get my degree, and the second chance offered by The Open University provided the means.”

Phil became visually impaired at the age of 10 when at primary school. He was educated in special schools until he was 20 when he decided that the jobs then on offer at the time - basket weaving, piano tuning and telephony - weren’t for him. He went on to gain an HND in Computer Science and after a short spell as a software engineer and lecturer Phil found his vocation in public relations, working for Deafblind UK, RNIB and a Whitehall Department.

It wasn’t until five years ago, after a protracted period of ill health and becoming registered as deaf and blind, that Phil was able to pursue his interest in psychology and begin a degree with The Open University.

Support to study
Both Louise and Phil have guide dogs who have attended residential schools and tutorials with them during their studies.

Louise and Phil have other impairments which has made working full time or full time study in a ‘brick’ university extremely challenging.

Phil said: “The great thing about the OU is you can study at your own pace, take rests when you need them and it all fits around the needs of your impairments. You can even do your exams at home with extra time and rest breaks.”

Louise added: “The OU have been brilliant at making materials accessible and providing a gateway to grants for people to read course materials. Tutors, librarians and other staff deserve our thanks for going out of their way to support our needs. Without them, our journey would have been impossible.”

Louise and Phil's daughter Maya (pictured below), worked as a non-medical helper  during the degrees, reading course materials and proof reading assignments and guided her parents onto the platform at the ceremony. Maya is now at university in Liverpool.

Plans for the future
Louise and Phil aspire to part-time masters degrees in script writing and disability studies and hope to attract some support for the fees from organisations or philanthropists.

Louise said: “I’ve written some plays and performance poetry for local organisations and hope in due course to be able to turn this into my career. I would particularly like to combine my two passions of science and writing to produce works which inspire young people to pursue an interest in the sciences.”

Phil added: “I hope one day to be able to return to the employment market even if it’s not in a conventional nine to five way. I’m a passionate campaigner for the rights of blind and partially sighted people and think my background in public relations, my studies in psychology and hopefully a masters in disability studies will fit together to turn these interests into an income stream.”

Louise and Phil intend to focus their determination and talents on leaving the benefits system behind, while working within their physical limitations to earn their income and independence. 

Find out more:

• Graduates share their study experiences
• Services for disabled students
• Graduation ceremonies 2012/13
• Study a qualification with the OU

 

Julia Sudbury graduated from the OU in March 2012. Here, talking while in the midst of her degree ceremony at the Barbican, London, she explains how the OU helped her challenge the misconception that she was stupid at school, gave her support for her dyslexia and how she worked hard and grew her confidence to graduate with a first.

OU student Barbara Keenan has scooped a prestigious award as part of Adult Learners’ Week 2012 for her dedication to lifelong learning while living with Motor Neurone Disease.

Barbara, 64, from Lincoln, has been on a learning journey spanning 27 years – gaining a degree and a Masters – and continues to do so despite living with Motor Neurone Disease. And her dedication and commitment to improving her life through learning is being recognised with a Regional Senior Learner Award as part of Adult Learners’ Week 2012, which takes place from 12 to 18 May.

Barbara began studying part-time as an adult for her first degree – a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Philosophy with The Open University in 1985 - spending an enjoyable eight years gaining the qualification. By the time Barbara graduated, she’d started to experience symptoms of Motor Neurone Disease, so was unable to transfer her newfound qualification into working life. Despite this setback, Barbara continued with her education and achieved a Masters degree in Philosophy at Sussex University.

Relishing even more educational challenges, Barbara is continuing to study modules which will earn her a BSc degree in Maths, and has so far completed a Level 3 social sciences course and two maths courses, all through the OU.

Barbara’s infectious enthusiasm for life and learning has even spurred one of her OU tutors on to study for a Masters degree in maths himself. Tutor Mark Hobbs said: “I have found Barbara to be an inspiration and a great role model for adult learning.”

Barbara added: “The Open University is a wonderful institution giving, as it does, a second chance for many who may not have been able to take a university degree straight from school.”

David Hughes, NIACE Chief Executive, said: “Every one of our award winners, for this year’s Adult Learners’ Week, illustrates how learning can help people to change their lives, make them feel part of their community and help support them in their future. Barbara’s life has improved because of her commitment, enthusiasm and ambition. I hope that others will be inspired by this story and see the role that learning can play to help them get a better life.”