The impact of OU students

The history of The Open University project is attempting to assess the impact of the OU on wider society, but the ripple effect of its education via its graduates would be difficult to quantify.

A perusal of mentions of the Open University in news articles just today gives a flavour of the diversity of people who have studied with the OU and how it might have effected their professional lives. The Scottish Business Insider reports that Nosheena Mobarik, co-founder of M Computer Technologies, has been appointed Chairperson of the CBI in Scotland. She studied with The Open University when her children were young. Anne Fielding Smith’s appointment as the new principal of Strode’s College is reported in the Midweek Observer. Anne has studied part time with The Open University for three years. The East Fife Mail reports that local artist Teresa Doughty is opening the Merchant’s Room in the Scottish Fisheries museum. Teresa has a degree in psychology from The Open University.

Finally, there is an interview with Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neil in the Daily Mail. O’Neil, who was a childhood football prodigy playing in the Newcastle youth team with Gazza and is now making Irish football history as he takes the Shamrock Rovers into the group stage of a European competition for the first time ever, talks about the Open University degree in maths and statistics he achieved while he was at Dundee United.

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