The Open University helps colleges expand higher education in local “cold spot” communities

Posted on 28 May 2026 • University news

The Open University’s ‘Higher Education in Further Education’ validation project has helped further education colleges in England build the skills, confidence and capacity to offer new higher education routes in communities with limited local provision, according to an independent evaluation commissioned by the Office for Students.

The Ecorys evaluation of The Open University’s HE in FE validation project found that the programme successfully tested new approaches to helping further education colleges develop and deliver high-quality Level 4 and 5 provision tailored to local skills needs, particularly in areas with low qualification attainment and limited local higher education options.

Commissioned by the Office for Students (testing new commissioning arrangements) and supported by £9 million of government funding from the Department for Education, the project enabled the OU to work with nine colleges in England. Up to 15 programmes were approved, with 10 launched during the funded period.

Key highlights from the evaluation include:

• The OU’s national reach, validation expertise and flexible partnership model were key strengths in the success of the project.
• By enabling higher education to be delivered locally through further education colleges, the programme helped improve access to Level 4 and 5 study in higher education cold spots, particularly for learners who may face barriers to travelling or relocating.
• Through tailored support, regular guidance and close collaboration, participating colleges strengthened their governance, quality assurance, curriculum design and understanding of higher education requirements.
• Capacity-building was one of the programme’s most significant achievements, helping colleges pursue new higher education opportunities beyond the life of the project.
• Local employer engagement and knowledge of the local labour market enabled colleges to shape several programme proposals around workforce need.

Professor Mark Durkin, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Partnerships and Enterprise at The Open University, said:

“This evaluation shows the important role The Open University plays in openingup higher education where it is needed most. By working in partnership with further education colleges, we have helped build local capacity, strengthen technical provision and create flexible routes that support students, employers and communities.

“The Higher Education in Further Education validation project demonstrates how the OU’s national reach, validation expertise and flexible approach can help address higher education cold spots, build confidence and capacity within colleges and support local skills growth.”

In a recent report on Higher Education Cold Spots from The Open University, Sian Pering, Head of Higher Education and Adult Learning at Yeovil College and Yeovil College University Centre, one of the colleges participating in the HE in FE project, said:

“The Open University approach is wholly different to that of other validating partners. If we are developing particularly innovative or specialist provisions, we will bring those to The Open University to validate because they have open minds in terms of validating beyond their own scope of delivery.

“Delivering in the locality is hugely important for people for whom studying elsewhere just isn’t accessible. Partnering with The Open University has allowed us to deliver workforce to local employers and, more importantly, deliver life-changing opportunities for people in our communities. Employers value a qualification that is validated by a nationally esteemed university.”

Writing in a blog on the Office for Students website announcing the independent evaluation, Alastair Wilson, Head of Regulatory Portfolio (Skills and Pathways Policy) at the Office for Students, said:

“The most significant success was the capability built within further education colleges. Colleges strengthened governance, quality assurance and curriculum design processes and gained a clearer understanding of what is required to deliver higher education at the required standard.”

The full evaluation report is available on the Office for Students website, alongside two learning digests, Expanding student choice and Sustaining successful partnerships.