{"id":12508,"date":"2019-04-20T07:01:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-20T06:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ounews.co\/?p=12508"},"modified":"2019-04-20T07:01:19","modified_gmt":"2019-04-20T06:01:19","slug":"spotlight-on-ou-researchers-at-50","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/spotlight-on-ou-researchers-at-50\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on OU Researchers at 50"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As The Open University celebrates its 50th anniversary, we take a look back at some of the key people who have influenced the course of OU research along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Derek Pugh<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Professor Derek Pugh <\/a>is a British psychologist and business theorist known for his work in the field of organisational development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Derek
Derek Pugh<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 1983, he became OU Professor of Systems and Head of Systems Discipline until 1988 was Emeritus Professor of International Management since 2000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Open University Business School<\/a> initiated the Professor Derek Pugh Prize in his honour in 1995, an annual award for the best student on Professional Certificate in Management course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrew Thompson <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Professor Andrew Thompson <\/a>was a pioneer in British management education, whose aim was to open up educational opportunities to a wide range of junior and middle managers. In 1988, he became the first Dean of the School of Management at the OU. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Andrew
Andrew Thomson<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Professor Thomson\u2019s key achievement to OU research was that which informed the launch of the OU MBA<\/a>, now triple-accredited. His contribution was recognised in 1993, when he was awarded the OBE for services to education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more about OU Research into Business and Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stuart Hall<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the intellectual giants of the first 50 years of The Open University was Professor Stuart Hall<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Professor Hall was a leading cultural theorist and sociologist who joined The Open University in 1979 and was Head of the Sociology Department for a decade before retiring as Emeritus Professor in 1997. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Stuart
Stuart Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Martin Bean, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University said in Professor Hall\u2019s obituary in 2014: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was a committed and influential public intellectual of the new left, who embodied the spirit of what the OU has always stood for; openness, accessibility, a champion for social justice and of the power of education to bring positive change in peoples\u2019 lives.\u201d <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Courtesy of the Stuart Hall project trailer, we can hear his voice addressing identity \u2013 \u201cthe ever-unfinished conversation\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n