Oversight of quality enhancement

The Office of the PVC (Students) was created in January 2019 as a central point of focus for student success and satisfaction within the University.​ The PVC (Students) works closely with the OU community to help students achieve their study goals, whatever these may be. Work is progressing around the following three key Student Success priorities:

• supported open entry for all undergraduate provision: to ensure new and continuing students get on the right study path
• improved communications with continuing students: to help students to progress through and complete their chosen module or qualification
• introducing a model for flexible study intensity: to improve support and provision for students wanting to study at a range of intensity levels, including full-time.

The Office of the PVC (Students) has responsibility for the University’s Student Charter, developed in partnership with the Students’ Association. A new Student Charter​ for the OU community was agreed by the University’s Senate in June 2020.​

Quality enhancement in the University includes the work of the Institute of Educational Technology, that supports the Office of the PVC (Students) with quality enhancement and inclusivity activities designed to enhance the student experience, and the work of the University’s scholarship centres.  

PVC (Students) has responsibility for Employability, Student Satisfaction, Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) and Access, Participation and Success (APS). The portfolio works very closely with the Open University Students’ Association on Student Voice and Student Engagement.