The Open University

Big Data is a big deal

12 February 2016

“Big data is a UK success story*” was one of the key messages about the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Big Data Dilemma inquiry report published today (12 February 2016). The Open University, an institution at the forefront of developing applications for big data, has welcomed the report but recognises there are many […]

Climbing up a mountain - Widening Participation

‘We wouldn’t be able to do it without the OU’

4 February 2016

“Three quarters of widening participation students say that without the Open University, they would not have been able to attend higher education at all” That was one of many stark messages delivered by Peter Horrocks, the Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, during his speech at the Widening Participation in UK Higher Education forum today (4 […]

Row of university graduates holding their scrolls. Image: Thinkstock

OU says Government must consider all study options

15 January 2016

The Open University has called on the Government to make sure it considers the full range of study options available to students as it develops its higher education policy. In November 2015, the Government published a Green Paper on the future of higher education, with a focus on giving students greater choice and encouraging inclusivity. The document […]

OU welcomes focus on part-time study in Spending Review

26 November 2015

On Wednesday, the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement and Spending Review, setting out the Government’s spending priorities over the next five years. This includes cuts to most central government departments, including BIS. Although The Open University receives the majority of its funding through student fees, direct government funding for certain activities is nonetheless an important […]

New report explores decline in part-time study

16 November 2015

A new study from a conservative think tank has explored some of the reasons behind a decline in the number of people studying part-time in recent years. The report from Bright Blue has been featured in the Financial Times and also proposes steps which could be taken by government and business to reverse the decline. […]

OU highlights skills gap to business leaders

9 November 2015

The Open University has been out in force at this year’s Confederation of British Industry (CBI) conference. The annual event in London is a gathering of business leaders from across Great Britain, and the OU was in attendance to highlight the benefits of developing skills through lifelong and part-time learning to delegates, and to promote […]

Businessman reading a financial report. Image credit: Thinkstock

OU responds to calls for £500m funding to be redirected from universities

21 October 2015

Leading political think-tank Policy Exchange has published a report calling on BIS to redirect £500m from universities grant funding into Further Education to boost higher level professional and technical education. The report, Higher, Further, Faster, More, says that, while UK universities are some of the best in the world, they are sitting on significant financial reserves and […]

Open University and Birkbeck join forces to call for part-time HE reform

21 October 2015

The Open University has submitted a joint response with Birkbeck to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) calling for changes to higher education policy in England to help stimulate the part-time market. Following a request for ideas by Government officials, the OU and Birkbeck have called for a number of changes, including: • […]

Are more poorer students going to university?

20 July 2015

The OU’s Vice-Chancellor, Peter Horrocks, looks at the numbers behind claims in the Budget that more students from poorer backgrounds are going to university. This blog post was originally written for Universities UK. Standing at the dispatch box to deliver his budget yesterday, the Chancellor made a significant statement about student numbers. We were told that […]

OU News

Category: The OU speaks out