The Open University

Photograph of Martha Lane Fox standing behind a lectern

‘I can’t imagine a more important institution to support and love’

16 April 2019

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, the sixth Chancellor of The Open University, shares her excitement about the university’s big birthday and “can’t imagine a more important institution to support and love”… “I have been lucky to hold many roles and wear several hats during my nearly-50 years on this planet. Without a doubt, one of the […]

From Refugee to University Executive

18 January 2019

Professor Devendra Kodwani, Executive Dean of The Open University’s Faculty of Business and Law, will introduce the OU’s 50th Anniversary Inaugural Lectures with a lecture on lifelong learning and the role of universities. We spoke to Devendra, to find out more about his story, and why this subject is so important to him. From humble […]

Regenerating Seaside Towns – why part-time study could be an answer

22 November 2018

The regeneration of seaside areas has been under debate in Westminster, with one topic of focus being access to education for those in coastal communities. Some seaside areas are a long way from a conventional university, and The Open University has traditionally helped many people in these communities gain a degree through flexible part-time distance […]

Social mobility thread must run through new Office for Students, says OU

5 February 2018

The Open University is calling on the new Office for Students (OfS) to lead the way in improving the chances of people from disadvantaged backgrounds going to university. In a policy pamphlet: Social Mobility and the Office for Students – The Five Essentials it sets out five steps to reverse the decline in numbers of students […]

OU calls for action after figures show disadvantaged students “let down”

1 February 2018

Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are being let down by the university system in England, new figures show. A Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) assessment showed a further annual decrease of two per cent in the overall number of disadvantaged students. Although the number of people from disadvantaged backgrounds starting full-time courses went up by three […]

Girl holding head against a school blackboard

Education does not start – or end – at school, says OU Vice-Chancellor

10 November 2017

Imagine not doing well at school. Imagine being told you’ll amount to nothing. And imagine carrying that around with you for decades. One of the highlights of my role as Vice-Chancellor is to meet many of our students as they cross the stage to become graduates. And to see the pride and new-found confidence that […]

The real casualty of the 2012 tuition fees shake-up? Mature and part-time learners

12 October 2017

This blog was authored by Vice-Chancellor, Peter Horrocks, and originally published on Universities UK We are at a rare moment in politics where the concerns of students have been thrust to the forefront of national debate I welcome the prime minister’s review of university funding because, amid the sound and fury of party politics, […]

OU and National Extension College campaign to widen access to Higher Education

14 September 2017

The OU and National Extension College (NEC) are launching a joint campaign to improve the life chances of those from low income groups or without previous qualifications through distance and lifelong learning. In response to a 50% decline in the number of students aged over 21 entering into Higher Education in the last ten […]

“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 […]

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