The Open University

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Diverse needs of part-time learners must be recognised, says OU Vice-Chancellor

4 July 2017

For many people in Britain, part-time study is the only way to access Higher Education. Speaking at the launch of the Office for Fair Access‘ report Evaluating the impact of outreach for adult learners from disadvantaged backgrounds, which was led by the OU, the Vice Chancellor Peter Horrocks spoke about how the diverse needs of part-time […]

“Be more ambitious!” universities are told in approach to mature students

4 July 2017

A new report says effective outreach to potential adult and mature students is vital to widen participation in Higher Education among under-represented groups. University leaders must be more creative and try innovative initiatives to entice adult learners from disadvantaged backgrounds into Higher Education, concludes a report looking at better ways to widen access and participation […]

Study finds UK skills gap is costing UK businesses £2.2 billion

3 July 2017

A new study commissioned by The Open University has found that the country’s skills gap is costing businesses more than £2 billion1 a year in higher salaries, recruitment costs and temporary staffing. The OU Business Barometer – which monitors the skills landscape of the UK – has found that 90 percent of businesses across the UK have found […]

Becoming a “learning organisation” is crucial to apprenticeship success

11 May 2017

A new study from the OU has found that a staggering 45% of apprentices struggle to find time to study indicating that employers need to do more to embed learning within their businesses to ensure that apprentices have the support they need to succeed. The report In Focus: The Work-based Learning Dividend, authored by independent […]

‘Fundamental culture change’ needed to address skills shortage

13 April 2017

The Open University (OU) and The Association of Colleges (AoC) have come together to call for a national skills strategy, with long term investment and reform in adult education to address the skills crisis. The organisations want to work with the Government to shape adult learning across Further and Higher Education in England, and say […]

Barbican - photo courtesy of Claudia Rosani

Degree ceremonies offer chance for renewal, says OU VC

5 April 2017

The OU’s degree ceremonies have started in earnest, kicking off at London’s Barbican recently. Peter Horrocks, the OU’s Vice-Chancellor, shares his experiences and explains why they give an opportunity to both celebrate and strengthen our resolve… “They start off quietly. A few early birds arrive for the ceremony, nervously checking the logistics and where to get […]

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Open University ‘alarmed and concerned’ at watering down of UK Government proposals for part-time maintenance loans

8 March 2017

The Open University expressed deep concern at proposals in the UK Budget to delay and limit maintenance loans for undergraduates in England who wish to undertake part-time distance learning. Treasury Budget documents revealed that plans for distance learners – who make up one third of all those who study part-time in England – were being […]

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Why apprenticeships are a perfect fit for the OU

8 March 2017

To mark National Apprenticeships Week, we take a look at the new Apprenticeship Levy. This will come into force from next month, following the Westminster Government’s announcement that three million apprenticeships will be created by 2020. From April, large employers – with a pay bill over £3million each year – will be required to contribute to the […]

Backing from UK Government for part-time study welcomed by OU

24 February 2017

The Open University has welcomed moves by the UK Government to ensure that the importance of part-time study and distance learning are fully recognised in the biggest shake-up for decades in higher education in England. Peter Horrocks, Vice-chancellor of The Open University, welcomed proposals that would require the new regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), to include explicitly options for part-time and distance learning when […]

Why the OU is not entering this year’s Teaching Excellence Framework

26 January 2017

The UK Government is piloting a new framework for measuring teaching excellence in universities called the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), with a view to providing students with more information about the quality of teaching and to improve standards. The Open University’s Vice-Chancellor, Peter Horrocks, explains why the OU has decided not to participate in this […]

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Category: The OU speaks out