The OU in Scotland and Cyrenians: 50 Years of Opening Doors and Changing Lives

 

 

Join this event to hear about The Open University’s mission to widen access to higher education and promote social justice, and learn about the life changing work of Cyrenians, a charity which supports those facing homelessness and exclusion.

 

You’ll hear some of the highlights and challenges of the last 50 years from Cyrenians Chief Executive Officer, Ewan Aitken, and The Open University in Scotland Director, Susan Stewart.

 

Dame Susan Rice, former Chief Executive Officer of Lloyds TSB, Chair of Scottish Water and Prince Charles’ Ambassador for Corporate Social Responsibility will offer her reflections on why all of us, regardless of background or sector, should take inspiration from the work of these two organisations to create inclusive communities where everyone in Scotland has an opportunity to flourish.

 

Programme:

18.15 Registration, refreshments, and networking

19.00 Welcome and introduction from the Chair, Tom Freeman, Assistant Editor, Holyrood Magazine

19.10 Ewan Aitken, CEO of Cyrenians, takes us on a journey through half a century of social inclusion

19.30 Susan Stewart, Director, The Open University in Scotland: “50 years of life changing learning”

19:50 Dame Susan Rice OBE, Head of Scottish Fiscal Commission: “A Three-legged Stool – drawing value from values”

20:10 Panel discussion and question time

20:45 Event close

 

The OU is Scotland’s largest provider of part-time education. 200,000 people in Scotland have studied with the OU since 1969 and more than half of all part-time undergraduates in Scotland today study with the OU. Our unique open access policy is as radical today as it was in 1969 and means that no entrance qualifications are needed for most courses.

 

For half a century, Cyrenians have been working with people across Scotland to tackle the root causes of homelessness. Cyrenians have journeyed with thousands of people in tough realities, helping them transform their own lives for themselves.